Legal Issues With Bit Torrent
Use of the BitTorrent protocol for copyright infringement and other illegal purposes has led to a variety of novel legal issues. While the technology itself is perfectly legal, the legality of many of its uses has been and currently is being aggressively litigated in courts world-wide. Importantly, the use of BitTorrent in connection with copyrighted material may make the issuer of the BitTorrent file, link or metadata liable as an infringing party under the Copyright laws of various governments. Similarly, the use of BitTorrent with illegal materials could potentially make the user liable as an accomplice under various laws.
In general, a BitTorrent file can be seen as a hyperlink. But, it can also be a very specific instruction of how to obtain something on the internet. BitTorrent files may also transmit or include illegal or copyrighted content. Court decisions in various nations have in fact deemed some BitTorrent files illegal.
Complicating the legal analysis are jurisdictional issues. BitTorrent files and links can be accessed in different geographic locations and legal jurisdictions. Thus, it is physically possible to host a BitTorrent file in geographic jurisdictions where it is legal and others where it is illegal. Therefore, the same link, file or data may be actionable in some places, but not actionable in others at the same time.
Read more about Legal Issues With Bit Torrent: Copyright Enforcement, Actions By Copyright Holders To Curtail BitTorrent Usage, Settlements, Patent Infringement
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