CAN "FINGERPRINTS" STOP
THE SWAP?

Variety reports that the RIAA is hot on technology from Audible Magic, a company that purports to use “digital fingerprinting” to stop unauthorized file swapping.

When attached to P2P software—an enforcement issue all its own, as detailed below—the policing tech attaches its “fingerprint” to all copyrighted songs, even in alternate versions and, upon detecting such tracks, prevents users from downloading them.

The P2P industry has already raised objections to being saddled with the software, arguing that since only U.S. companies could be forced to block copyrighted material by means of U.S. law, swappers would merely switch to one of many services headquartered overseas.

The Kazaas and Morpheuses of the world have previously sworn that the architectures of their systems makes the installation of copyright-friendly technology highly onerous if not impossible; the RIAA believes Audible Magic’s wares put the lie to this claim.

"The P2P people say they want to go legitimate and this is a clear step along the way," reads a quote from RIAA ruler Mitch Bainwol in the article by Variety’s Susan Crabtree. "Failure to move in this direction means perhaps those statements about becoming 100% legitimate are not genuine."

Of course, one way to at least limit illicit file sharing in the U.S. would be to get Internet Service Providers to install this or similar software, though the RIAA insists the burden falls squarely on P2P companies.

"It's the P2P community that is responsible for inducing American kids to break the law," insisted Bainwol. "It's the traffic through these networks that's illegal. The P2Ps can fix it on their own."