eXeem Lite is an adware free version of eXeem. The current eXeem contains Cydoor, which is rated as adware. You can find out more below. –UPDATED–

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This article from the SF Bay Guardian is very compelling. To summarize:

“1. The Supreme Court rules on P2P For better or worse, the biggest legal fight over file sharing will be finished by next Christmas. The Supreme Court is scheduled to decide whether makers of P2P software – and by extension other technology makers – are responsible for the sins of their customers. When its opinion comes down next fall, it will tell us what Napster’s demise never did: whether or not it’s legal to make and distribute file-sharing software. This won’t stop the record labels from continuing to sue anything with a heartbeat and a DSL line, but that news will look silly next to the fact that …

2. File sharing continues to soar The Recording Industry Association of America has sued more than 7,000 alleged file sharers since 2003, but P2P traffic has actually increased. By some counts, 60 million Americans have tried file sharing. New P2P programs are released faster than J.Lo can get engaged. There’s no reason to think these trends won’t continue or increase. The year 2005 will be the “best year ever” for P2P, and the medium’s continued popularity means …

3. Artists look for plan B When it becomes clear that the RIAA’s slash-and-burn campaign hasn’t stopped file sharing, musicians will start to wonder if there’s a better way to move forward. Would it be possible to create a system in which P2P joins CD sales, concert revenues, and radio licenses as another way to pay the bills? The answer is yes, and the technology is finally available to make it happen. The trick is to make it feel free to the public while collecting money for creators. “

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“We’ve obtained copies of the MPAA lawsuit letters being circulated to Bit Torrent websites and their hosts - in this case to Torrent website “Demonoid” (Pages: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7). In it, lawyers warn the host they’ve sued the operators of a Torrent site on their network, but currently don’t know their identities. The letter to the website owner claims they face “severe sanctions” should they delete any pirated material or usable evidence in the case against them. As noted by users below, the IP address for the website cited by the letter (66.250.450.10) doesn’t/can’t exist, a mistake repeated throughout the letters.”

Source: DslReports.

The MPAA was sucessful in shutting down one of the largest BitTorrent tracking sites on the net. They won’t be coming back on line either. That’s definitely going to leave a mark.

Related Links:
BitTorrent Measurements Analysis

Two Australian indie legends come to Ozmusicweed Australian Music site this week in the form of David Virgin from Sekret Sekret, and Dan Rumour from the Cruel Sea who have teamed up together for an album of new songs, which they are releasing in Weedshare format. These elder statesmen of the Australian underground music scene have been making music together since 1979 in various different bands, starting with seminal industrial noise band SPK. Read more and ownload tracks from their new album “Virgin & Rumour". Weedfiles from the Virgin & Rumour album can be downloaded from http://www.ozmusicweed.com

Virgin & Rumour are one of the increasing amount of artist’s releasing their music in the new Weedshare format.

Weedshare (as in the music “spreads like a weed”) is a relatively new digital music distribution model that pays people to share your music. Weedfiles are basically windows media files (so most people already have the software needed to play them) with a very clever form of digital rights management built in. You can download and listen to a Weedfile 3 times free before you have to pay for it, then if you buy it, the artist/label always get’s 50%, the last 3 people to pass the song around get 35% (split 20%,10%, 5% in order of who purchased song first) and SML, the Weed parent company get 15% for administering the system. So once you pay for a Weedfile, and pass it around to your friends, you get 20% of the sale price every time one of them pays for the song. It’s a natural thing to want to share music you like with people you like. Weedshare works on the principle that it’s better to reward people for doing the right thing, rather than punishing them for doing the wrong thing.

update The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday said it would hear a controversial case on whether file-sharing software companies could be held legally responsible for copyright infringement on their networks.

The court’s action is good news for big record labels and Hollywood studios, which have lost successive rulings on the issue in lower courts. They want software companies like Morpheus parent StreamCast Networks and Grokster to be held legally responsible when copyrighted material is swapped using their software.

“There are seminal issues before the court–the future of the creative industries and legitimate Internet commerce,” Mitch Bainwol, chief executive officer of the Recording Industry Association of America, said in a statement. “These are questions not about a particular technology, but the abuse of that technology by practitioners of a parasitical business model.”

The court’s decision could also be a sobering sign for technology companies well outside the world of file-swapping. At the core of the case is an interpretation of a 20-year-old decision that made VCRs legal despite their ability to copy TV shows and movies, which ultimately helped pave the way for a host of technologies ranging from CD burners to Apple Computer’s iPod.

That case, known as the Sony-Betamax decision, set out rough guidelines under which technology used to make illegal copies of copyrighted material could be distributed without the manufacturer being responsible for the resulting piracy, as long as the product was also capable of “substantial noninfringing uses.”

That’s been enormously influential for computer and consumer electronics makers over the past few years, particularly as music and movies have been turned into easily copied digital formats. Indeed, all MP3 player makers, including Apple, owe their recent history to a 1999 decision in which a judge said MP3 players were capable of playing legally purchased music, and were therefore legal.

“I don’t think anybody had a clue how significant that decision was when it came out,” said Jim Brelsford, an attorney at Jones Day. “So many things turned out to be built on that.”

Some in Silicon Valley fear that a Supreme Court ruling aimed at reining in file-swapping could have unintended impacts on future product development.

“There’s a lot more at stake here for the technology industry than for the copyright industry,” said Fred von Lohmann, an Electronic Frontier Foundation attorney who has represented StreamCast Networks on the issue. “This case will not be determinant of the future of peer to peer around the world, but it will be determinant of the future of a whole host of future digital products.”

The case itself focuses on Morpheus and Grokster, each of which are popular file-swapping applications that are widely used to trade movies, music and software.

Studios and labels sued the companies in 2001, following successful legal campaigns against peer-to-peer trailblazer Napster. Attorneys for the entertainment conglomerates said the newer file-swapping services were, like Napster, building businesses based on copyright infringement.

But Grokster and StreamCast were built around a different technology than Napster. Their services involved a highly decentralized network of individual computers trading files among themselves, rather than a network controlled from a central location.

Lower court judges ultimately said that the companies did not directly control what happens on their networks, and that their software could be used for legal purposes. That shields the companies themselves from legal responsibility for the actions of their users, the lower courts said.

SuprNova.org plans to launch new file sharing specification called “Exeem“.

BitTorrent has quickly become one of the most popular P2P protocols on the Internet. In terms of bandwidth consumption, it is quite easily the most popular network, generating more Internet traffic than FastTrack or eDonkey2000. While BitTorrent is certainly efficient in distributing large files across the Internet, it is plagued by one vulnerability - its reliance on centralization.

The BitTorrent tracker, similar to a central server, has been the great weakness of any P2P network. Although BitTorrent trackers do not operate identically to indexing servers, they still act like traffic cops - directing traffic to their intended destination. SuprNova.org, while not a tracker per se, still operates as a impromptu tracker as it points traffic to the actual tracker. Regardless, the bandwidth consumption remains enormous. This equates to prolonged searches, lengthy load times and other typical slow downs associated with the World Wide Web.

One of the great resolutions to depending on centralized servers has been decentralization. Initiated by NullSoft’s Gnutella, decentralized P2P networks have revolutionized file-sharing by making them impervious to “pulling the plug” as was Napster’s and Scour’s fate. This has long been a fear of many BitTorrent fans - pull the Tracker plug and there goes a portion of the network. However, it appears that SuprNova.org has found a solution to this problem. Meet Exeem.

Exeem is a new file-sharing application being developed by the folks at SuprNova.org. Exeem is a decentralized BitTorrent network that basically makes everyone a Tracker. Individuals will share Torrents, and seed shared files to the network. At this time, details and the full potential of this project are being kept very quiet. However it appears this P2P application will completely replace SuprNova.org; no more web mirrors, no more bottle necks and no more slow downs.

Exeem will marry the best features of a decentralized network, the easy searchability of an indexing server and the swarming powers of the BitTorrent network into one program. Currently, the network is in beta testing and already has 5,000 users (the beta testing is closed.) Once this program goes public, its potential is enormous.

The value of global music sales via the internet is set to top $6 billion in 2010, according to a new report by Informa Media Group. The report, Music on the Internet (5th edition), estimates that the share of music sales online will rise from 4.6% in 2004 to 15.2% in 2010. The dominance of hard format sales through the internet will finally be broken, although the steady rise of download and subscription revenues will not impact on retail as quickly as some have suggested. Global digital revenues are forecast to exceed $3.1 billion in 2010, equivalent to 7.7% of total music sales.

Successful launches in most major territories have generated great interest, in particular the ongoing success of the global download leader Apple and its iTunes Music Store. While the continued proliferation of P2P makes the prospect of legal downloading reaching its true potential unlikely, the successes of 2004 are even more impressive given that every music release is available for free somewhere on the internet.

Author of the report Simon Dyson said: “This year has been important for the whole of the digital music sector and the momentum created in 2003 has certainly continued all through 2004. Converting the P2P file sharers is still central to the long-term success of the industry. Many millions of music fans still prefer to download for free even though the legal services offer such good value.”

Much of the focus with regards to music on the internet during 2004 has centred on the growth of downloads and the numerous launches or services providing a legitimate alternative to P2P file sharing. While this is unquestionably good news for the music industry, illegal file sharing continues to thrive and efforts to limit its spread have so far all but failed. Music on the Internet (5th edition) estimates the value of lost sales to the music industry in 2004 remained almost unchanged at $2.1 billion.

Music on the Internet (5th edition) is published by Informa Media Group, which also publishes the influential Music & Copyright newsletter. The report contains forecasts for online music sales up to and including 2010 as well as a detailed analysis of the different online music players and sectors.

Wurld Media, a leading developer of proprietary e-commerce and file transport technologies, today announced it had signed agreements with three major record labels. SONY BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group have agreed to provide access to their vast catalogs of music to be made available on Peer Impact (www.peerimpact.com), Wurld Media’s new peer-to- peer (P2P) digital file-sharing network. Peer Impact is currently concluding internal beta testing and is scheduled to launch publicly in the first quarter of 2005.

Peer Impact’s proprietary business model is designed to provide a clear, legal alternative for consumers to buy and share music, video and an assorted variety of digital content. At the same time, the service ensures that artists and rights holders receive their due compensation for each file shared on the network. Peer Impact is a revolutionary platform that harnesses peer-to- peer technology to create a low-cost infrastructure for distributing licensed content. Because Peer Impact will distribute only licensed and public domain content, it leverages the efficiencies of peer-to-peer distribution while respecting the work of artists and copyright holders.

“We’re excited and proud to gain the cooperation of leading record labels, and we look forward to concluding even more agreements in the coming weeks, but we are not stopping there,” said Greg Kerber, chairman and CEO of Wurld Media. “Peer Impact actually revolutionizes P2P in two ways: By minimizing distribution costs and by allowing legal file sharing within a closed network. Our goal is to populate Peer Impact with the greatest, and most diverse, collection of digital content anywhere.”

“The online media market is presently split between authorized legal paid- download services and unauthorized free services; the consumer is stuck somewhere in the middle, and that’s where Peer Impact comes in,” Kerber continued. “From the beginning our objective has been to reach out to the consumer and help build a secure and legal file-sharing community, created by – and for – the fan, but which also ensures that digital-rights owners get compensated. We look forward to realizing that objective with the coming launch of Peer Impact.”

Three of the Big Four music labels have reached licensing agreements to provide their music to the soon-to-launch Peer Impact network, a peer-to-peer service that enables legal music file-sharing.

Peer Impact is being developed by Saratoga Springs, N.Y.-based Wurld Media, which signed the pacts with Warner Music, Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Vivendi Universal’s Universal Music Group.

A Wurld Media representative said Tuesday that the company is currently in talks with the remaining major label, EMI Group.

Peer Impact is currently conducting internal tests and plans to launch to the public in the first quarter of 2005.

Its proprietary business model is designed to provide a clear, legal alternative for consumers to buy and share music, video, and an assorted variety of digital content. The company said the service ensures that artists and rights holders receive their due compensation for each file shared on the network.

The Azureus project on sourceforge released the new 2.2.0.0 client. Azureus offers multiple torrent downloads, queuing/priority systems (on torrents and files), start/stop seeding options and instant access to numerous pieces of information about your torrents. Azureus now features an embedded tracker easily set up and ready to use. The client was implemented in Java enabling it to run on multiple platforms.

The U.S. Department of Justice has targeted a group known as the Underground Network for its first criminal investigation into intellectual property piracy over peer-to-peer (P2P) networks.

Direct Connect, P2P software developed by NeoModus, enables the network.

A Justice Department official told internetnews.com that neither NeoModus nor its technology were under investigation. Last week, a U.S. Appeals Court upheld a lower court ruling that P2P software is legal even if it can be used in an illegal manner.

Instead, the probe is focusing on a specific network of Direct Connect users that requires its more than 7,000 members to make anywhere from 1 to 100 gigabytes of media available for other members.

During a media briefing Wednesday, Attorney General John Ashcroft said “virtually every kind of software, game, movie and music was available for illegal downloading and distribution on these networks, from computer games and music that would cost as much as $18 to $35 dollars if purchased legitimately, to specialized software that has a retail cost in excess of $1,000.”

Ashcroft authorized search warrants Wednesday morning involving an Internet service provider and five individuals in Texas, New York and Wisconsin. Computers, software and computer-related equipment were confiscated in the raids. No charges have been filed.

According to an FBI affidavit in support of the search warrants, the Underground Network Web site is hosted on a server located in San Antonio, Texas. The hubs on the network are located both in the U.S. and abroad. The affidavit states that the network has 55 staff positions including hub operators and moderators and network administrators.

Users access the site by downloading Direct Connect software and then connecting to the Underground Network. There is no fee to join the network and members are provided with access to a list of hub sites on the network.

Through what the FBI called “online covert operations and traditional investigative techniques,” authorities said they were able to identify the leadership of the network and the organizational structure of the U.S. hubs. Five of those hubs and their operators are the subject of the DOJ investigation.

After an undercover FBI agent joined the Underground Network, he was able to download 72 gigabytes of copyright protected material from the five sites. The FBI says the material consisted of approximately 84 movies, 40 software applications, 13 games and 178 sound recordings.

Since last September, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has filed copyright infringement civil suits against almost 7,000 individuals using P2P applications on the public file-sharing sites of Kazaa, Grokster, Morpheus, eDonkey and others, but Ashcroft’s Wednesday announcement marks the first criminal investigation into P2P networks.

The maximum penalty for criminal copyright infringement for a first-time offender is up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

“P2P does not stand for ‘Permission to Pilfer.’ Illegal distribution and reproduction of copyrighted material is a serious criminal offense,” Ashcroft said. “Today’s investigative action sends a clear message to online thievesand those who think nothing of downloading those stolen goods to their computers and MP3 players.”

Ashcroft added, “You can pay the fair value for music, movies, software and games like every other consumer, or you can pay an even higher price when you are caught committing online theft.”

2 new DJ Mixes added to the download section. Check ‘em out:
DJ Placid - Acid House Mix
Description: All the way old skool Acid.
Version: 1.0 Filesize: 19.74 MB
Added on: 13-Jul-2002 Downloads: 3
Rate resource | Details

DJ Placid - Deep House Mix
Description: Deep House Mix
Version: 1.0 Filesize: 33.66 MB
Added on: 13-Jul-2002 Downloads: 1
Rate resource | Details

Shareaza is the top of the range P2P file sharing application that�s built entirely from user suggestions and comments. It has everything. And it�s totally free: no ads, no spyware, no bundled crap. We�re giving it away. You simply won�t get more for less anywhere else.
Grab the latest version now at www.shareaza.com, or read on to see what�s new. Once again it�s been less than a week since the last version, and once again we�ve managed to pack a whole load of new goodies into version 1.3: Powerful bandwidth shaping / throttling capabilities give you absolute control over how your Internet connection is used. Restrict bandwidth use per connection, with individual controls for each connection type and upstream/downstream traffic. And these actually work, too. Plus you can see it all graphically in real-time using Shareaza�s fully configurable performance and bandwidth graphing system. This is possibly the most advanced bandwidth control mechanism available in P2P software today (so it fits well next to Shareaza�s most advanced IP security system).

Brand new host browsing feature allows you to see the shared files available on a particular Gnutella host, and download the ones you want. All from within Shareaza�s comprehensive search interface, so you can filter and sort files to find what you�re looking for faster. Just right-click any connected host or search result and choose Browse Host.

Shareaza supports host browsing through the new host browsing specification, which has not yet been added by all other Gnutella software. But that�s okay, because Shareaza also supports browsing older BearShare nodes through an automatic translation system. Files are all displayed in Shareaza�s unified results interface, so you can take advantage of both systems today. Finally, if you don�t want other host browse-enabled users to be able to list your shared files, simply turn it off in Sharing options!

Support for OGG Vorbis files (.ogg): This new (and open) audio format is fast becoming an alternative to mp3s and the closed Media Player formats. Shareaza now fully supports .ogg files, recognises them as audio and extracts information such as title/artist/album as well as length calculation and nominal bitrate / quality. Another first! We�re also supporting Monkey�s Audio APE files, which is another new free format. Shareaza supports and decodes the widest variety of file formats in the P2P world, resulting in richer searches and more power. (This version also has improved support for variable bitrate / VBR mp3 files, with accurate length calculation, average bitrates and variable marking).

Bandwidth Boost command for downloads lets you selectively remove the bandwidth limits for specific files. Great for prioritising downloads that you want ASAP ahead of those that can wait. A new Show All Sources mode for downloads displays download sources/locations that are not currently being used, as well as active transfers. You have full control over the source list, and can individually add / remove / access / disconnect / browse each source. Or, turn �show all sources� off and let Shareaza do it all for you!

Search window upgrade including automatic sorting, and much improved file grouping. Files which can be downloaded from more than once source now show all the relevant information without having to look at each source individually. You can see a summary of the rating (availability) icons, an average of the individual host speeds, and a superset of all metadata available on that file from every host, eg bitrate/time/title/etc.

Download integrity verification ensures the files you download are what you think they are, and are free from corruption. The finished file is verified against the SHA1 Shareaza was expecting, and the results displayed in the downloads window. Potentially unsafe files are also marked red in the library, and an extra warning message is displayed before opening them.

Generate magnet: and gnutella: links in bulk easily with a new library management feature. You can easily export custom lists of file links in magnet or gnutella protocol format, complete with optional HTML formatting.

Improved support for GWebCache discovery services, including the ability to advertise new services and browse cache statistics on the web. And all new GGEP support, to handle the next generation of Gnutella extensions and improvements. We�re already supporting hashing/HUGE encapsulated in GGEP, and browse host availability status with more to come.

There are also countless other enhancements which have been suggested by Shareaza users. If you�ve got an idea you�d like to see, send it our way and we�ll give it full consideration. No ideas go unheard, and in fact not too many go unimplemented either!

Tired of other file-sharing communities such as Napster, Gnutella, and Scour? Tired of Napster Clones in general? Looking for something new? Get ready to change the way you think about peer-to-peer file-sharing. NeoModus�’ Direct Connect� offers a complete set of tools to locate any type of media.

Unlike other impersonal, server-driven file-sharing networks, Direct Connect offers a community-oriented, open, user-controlled network, (similar to IRC). Moreover, Direct Connect’s network architecture is built on a peer-to-peer foundation; users run, control, and maintain the network. Users are able to share any type of file - absolutely no restrictions. These files are easily viewed through a familiar organized windows-explorer interface. To conveniently access the plethora of files, advanced searching capabilities and filters are provided. All of these features are integrated into Direct Connect’s unique communal file-sharing system.

http://www.neomodus.com
http://dcplusplus.sourceforge.net