Microsoft examines the Darknet [LWN.net]

Among the papers presented at the ACM Workshop on Digital Rights Management last week was one entitled "The Darknet and the Future of Content Distribution" written by four Microsoft engineers. The paper is available, in MS Word format, naturally.

The "darknet," as described in the paper, is the copyright-violating underground so feared by the entertainment industry, along with the technological infrastructure which supports content sharing. Several techniques for shutting down (or making life more difficult for) the darknet are examined; the authors conclude that these techniques are likely to be ineffective.

For example, the paper points out that the weak points of most file sharing networks are global indexes and lack of anonymous sharing. A global index is an obvious target for an irate corporation and its lawyers, as Napster discovered. Traceable sharing can be used to track down (and prosecute) individuals who are sharing content. But these activities will only have the effects of (1) encouraging more distributed, difficult to trace networks, and (2) splitting trading networks into smaller, interlinked networks of people who know and trust each other. The long-term effect on file sharing volume is likely to be small.

Given that, one might look at ways to keep content from getting into the darknet in the first place. Digital rights management and copy protection systems, it is noted, have, almost without exception, been broken. Since only one system need be broken to allow the injection of unprotected content into the darknet, DRM systems are not seen as being effective in shutting down sharing. Watermarking schemes are, in general, easy to remove, and suffer from key management problems. Hardware which implements watermarking is also at a competitive disadvantage, unless such technology is mandated legally for all devices. "The recently proposed Hollings bill is a step along these lines." It would be interesting to imagine the entire journey, if the CBDTPA is just "a step."

The authors conclude by saying that, for all practical purposes, the darknet can not be stopped. Business models need to take this in mind.

Consider an MP3 file sold on a web site; this costs money, but the purchased object is as useful as a version acquired from the darknet. However, a securely DRM-wrapped song is strictly less attractive: although the industry is striving for flexible licensing rules, customers will be restricted in their actions if the system is to provide meaningful security. This means that a vendor will probably make more money by selling unprotected objects than protected objects. In short, if you are competing with the darknet, you must compete on the darknet's own terms: that is convenience and low cost rather than additional security.

(Emphasis in the original).

There is little here that has not been said before. The message seems to have been heard a little more widely this time, however, perhaps a a result of the authors' Microsoft affiliation. Whether the entertainment industry will hear the message remains to be seen, however; that industry still seems far more interested in controlling our computers and interactions than in providing convenience and low cost.

to post comments

Microsoft examines the Darknet

Posted Nov 27, 2002 10:42 UTC (Wed) by mgh (guest, #5696) [Link]

How can I not be cynical about this latest attempt of government or coporates to regulate something for what is supposed to be our own good.

Facts: Drug use is at an all time high despite billions of dollars spent on what are fondly called "wars on drugs". All for the good of the people, however I don't know any person who is supposed to be "protected" by these actions that would in fact support them. This is not to suggest that drug are not harmful health when used. The issue is of course that drugs are not addicitive, people are addictive.

What does this have to do with Music? Music is different in one respect - at first sight it does not seem to be a mind/mood altering chemical, but on the other hand music is the passion of many and we listen to music because we like the effect. Try not listening to any music for two weeks and then sitting down and listening to your favourite piece - startling experience.

Simple analysis would be the prison terms don't stop people trading in illegal drugs, legislation and technology control won't stop illicit trading of music.

The legislation will have the effect of harming innovation of technology, but countries other than the US will not be so restricted so they will still produce "illegal" computers without the DRM that can make them secure. I agree with the article - no way will legislation prevent the use of technology.

Behaviour is regulated not by laws, but by morals of individuals. Today moving music from cd to tape or to another format accepted. Changing the law or technology will change this perception. Attempts to control will add the thrill and make it more attractive!!!

Small Worlds

Posted Nov 27, 2002 13:13 UTC (Wed) by brugolsky (guest, #28) [Link]

One can find a host of papers on network graphs and "Small Worlds" over at arxiv.org in the condensed matter / statistical physics collection.

How to slow the darknet

Posted Dec 3, 2002 14:10 UTC (Tue) by torsten (guest, #4137) [Link]

My sister-in-law told me recently of my huge mp3, divx, and music video mpg collections, "You're going to get into trouble."

She's wrong of course, I'm not a big distributor, mostly a collector. I'm not really a target.

But what if I was? This got me thinking -- years of jail time, attorney's, tens of thousands of dollars, and I'm simply to catch. I deleted everything. Herein lies, I believe, the secret.

If the "right to copy" protection racket actually starts prosecuting people, I think they'll find this to be effective in reducing illicit copying.