Study: 99.7 percent of files shared on torrent networks are illegal

Study: 99.7 percent of files shared on torrent networks are illegal
The RIAA and MPAA have begun distributing new research about the perils of piracy on the entertainment industry, trying to get Congress to take a second look into potential legislation on the matter.

Additionally, the trade groups are once again accusing search engines of not doing enough to direct traffic away from well-known pirate file sharing sites.



"We invite Google and the other major search engines to sit down with us to formulate a plan that goes beyond promises of action and actually serves its intended purpose of deterring piracy and giving the legitimate marketplace an environment to thrive," RIAA Chairman Cary Sherman told a House panel (via 3N).

MPAA boss Christopher Dodd added, "as the internet's gatekeepers, search engines share a responsibility to play a constructive role in not directing audiences to illegitimate content".

Legislators have shied away from sweeping legislation following last year's try at CISPA, which was met with massive criticism from the general public and from major corporations. Smaller measures have been taken, such as credit card processors like Visa and Mastercard blocking access to businesses that thrive off piracy, and ad networks have also pulled business from warez sites. Google also tweaked its algorithms to give 'less visibility' to certain sites.

One of the newly cited surveys is from Comcast, which used the digital brand monitoring company NetNames. That study, which came from a review of the top 12,500 files out of 3.5 million on a public BitTorrent tracker, says 99.7 percent were illegal/unauthorized. Of course, that sample size is small and skewed, but it should get some heads to turn.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 21 Sep 2013 18:59
Tags
piracy torrents study
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  • 10 comments
  • Clam_Up

    Study: Paying lawmakers to extend Copyright protection duration every time content nears public domain status (Disney, etc.) is unconscionable.

    Ignorance en masse is still ignorance.

    21.9.2013 19:28 #1

  • aldan

    another statistic riaa and mpaa are probably aware of is that 48.6% of all statistics are made up.

    21.9.2013 19:30 #2

  • Justoneguy

    Is it any wonder why the MPAA has a corrupt "ex" politician as their boss? Christopher Dodd is one of the biggest scumbags on the planet, and that's actually offensive to scumbags.

    21.9.2013 23:38 #3

  • SomeBozo

    Originally posted by aldan: another statistic riaa and mpaa are probably aware of is that 48.6% of all statistics are made up. Or as my sadistics teacher use to say in class:

    "Statistics never lie, but liars use statistics."
    "99% of all statistics are completely useless, including this one."
    "There are lies, damn lies and statistics...."

    I think 100% of your statistics for your post were made up ;)

    22.9.2013 02:33 #4

  • adre02

    The article reads 99.7% of all then as you read it there is 99.7% of a sample of 12k files out of millions.

    Is this a pun intended?

    This is superman

    22.9.2013 10:06 #5

  • aldan

    Originally posted by SomeBozo: Originally posted by aldan: another statistic riaa and mpaa are probably aware of is that 48.6% of all statistics are made up. Or as my sadistics teacher use to say in class:

    "Statistics never lie, but liars use statistics."
    "99% of all statistics are completely useless, including this one."
    "There are lies, damn lies and statistics...."

    I think 100% of your statistics for your post were made up ;)
    yeah,you got me there.LOL

    22.9.2013 13:54 #6

  • megadunderhead

    Wow are these guys morons!!!!

    1. ask your self these questions if it was true that the number was 99.7 percent that means every house hold would be downloading a movie or music cd a day which is absolute garbage!!!

    2. most torrents contain viruses malware and spyware and there are several fakes out there as well did you test them all most likely not!!!!

    So your numbers are bull plain and simple

    23.9.2013 05:40 #7

  • dEwMe

    Meh...We all know these guys inflate their #'s but realistically? You gotta know the majority is pirated stuff. Who uses this stuff for legit uses? Come on...LOL

    Fly your pirate flag high!!!

    Just my $0.02,

    dEwMe

    23.9.2013 14:49 #8

  • dablur

    Guess what? Even if it was currently 99.9% they can always say Torrents can be used to help distribute 100% legal free data..thats like saying They shouldn't sell CD-R/DVD-Rs because people use them for illegal copying..everyone knows they majorly do but they can also be used for personal/legal data... Also they only took MOST POPULAR 12,500 out of 3.5 million files... thats like saying the most popular 1/2916 of the files are illegal..

    --blur

    29.9.2013 07:33 #9

  • s_c47

    This report was brought to you by the research group, Duh!™ Inc.

    Someone told me once that theres a right and wrong, and that punishment would come to those
    who dare to cross the line.
    But it must not be true for jerk-offs like you.
    Maybe it takes longer to catch a total asshole.

    4.10.2013 15:49 #10

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