File-sharing Networks – What’s there in the Future?

A Solution Coming from BluFilter

No need to further empasize the tension online music world is currently experiencing. The clash between the music industry and music fans has reached a turning point. On one hand consumers demand smaller prices for CDs or the right to download music and thus make up their own albums or song collection; on the other hand record companies and artists blame the file-sharing networks and those using them for substantial losses in revenues. Not even all musicians share the same view – we have those reluctant to any involvement in this new way of selling their art, feeling that music should stick to the traditional format of CD, and those trying to keep up with times that put their final product out for downloading.

Above all there’s RIAA and its ongoing pursuit for these file-sharing outlawas making the great P2P model 60 million people exploit daily is pine away as it becomes too risky to use.

However, not everyone seems to be unwilling to pay for a downloaded track. Actually, provided that the circumstances are right they may be very open to it – that is, for example, if they have to reach their pocket customers will want quality in return; they will also want to be able to preview a song before buying it and the freedom to choose from any genre.This is where Kokopelli Networks steps in saying they’ve come up with a solution – BluFilter: Authorize.

According to CDfreaks.com this software is designed to offer flexible copyright detection and management to current P2P software applications. Basically, this software component and platform, provides an enhancement to allow users to legally download files. It aims at getting all the sides covered and making everybody happy with their status – holds up the music and entertainment industries, by providing financial compensation to the artists, copyright owners and also to the P2P networks.

As CDfreaks.com informs us Jon Cianciullo, Product Manager for Kokopelli Networks, declared that BluFilter is integrated into the existing P2P network infrastructure, with a small adjustment to the client software. He assures that the quality of the files on the network after BluFilter is installed will be preserved. The quality issue is top priority as, in fact, depending on the quality they offer the record companies will be or not successful with their new approach.

Cianciullo explained: 'The preview feature is an excellent suggestion and we have added it to our feature wish list in our Dev Zone. Our initial thoughts are that Preview would allow the user to listen to the beginning, middle and end of the song, in 5-second segments. We welcome more input on this feature. Also, once you download a song the transaction is stored on our servers for 1 year. If you download the same song again to replace a lost or damaged file within that year, you will not be charged."

As part of the P2P community responded negatively, Jon goes on saying that the client computer is providing the distribution infrastructure and their position is the charge percentage will reflect this fact:"Currently, even in today's digital world, in excess 40% of every musical dollar spent goes towards distribution costs. P2P networks running BluFilter can turn that model on its head. The exact percentages will be determined during the beta phase as we evaluate and assess our cost model, suffice it to say that for now, the new distribution network can operate very successfully for a fraction of that amount."

To end with Jon’s conclusion who again pointed out that once we’ve gone P2P there’s no way back as this technology has forever changed the way we perceive music distribution, let’s remind ourselves that this technological revolution ultimately means the chance for any artist, to record a song in the morning, and then have it shared and distributed worldwide using his P2P client of choice. This is a great chance to break through and make yourself known.

BluFilter may be the one to make these things happen turning the P2P network into a real promoter and partner for artists at the same time keeping the underlying network infrastructure unaffected.