What is BitTorrent?
How Does BitTorrent Work?
In the ever-evolving digital world, BitTorrent has secured a spot as one of the most effective ways to share files, particularly large files, with other users. BitTorrent is simply a protocol for sharing files, using multiple users who share “bits” of each file to cut down on the dependency of one host sharing with the downloader.
BitTorrent operates via an external client on a users computer. The process starts with downloading a .torrent file, which has the metadata, or information and instructions, your BitTorrent client needs to gather the pieces. Upon opening or running the .torrent file from your chosen client, the software will connect to a tracker that will sort out where to download the pieces of the file. The client will gather bits of the file from as many users are available, until the entire file is gathered. At this point, you have a full file that has been downloaded from many peers simultaneously.
Is BitTorrent Legal?
As with any file sharing protocols, the issue of legality is always front and center. With BitTorrent, the answer is both yes and no. The software and protocol itself is legal, but it is up to the user to determine if the files they are sharing are legal to share. Since the trackers and metadata files offer copyrighted material, they are not breaking any laws. But using those files to obtain copyrighted materials is where the legal issues lie.
BitTorrent, Inc. has a deal with several Hollywood studios to distribute it’s movies to paying downloaders legally. There are record companies that also utilize BitTorrent to distribute their material legally. But when it comes to peer-to-peer downloads, it is at the user’s discretion.
There are many websites that offer torrents for illegal downloads of movies and music albums. Downloading them from other users, and avoiding the record companies or movie studios is likely illegal. As with any digital downloads, if the material you are downloading is copyrighted, and you are not paying for it, you are likely breaking the law.
There are places however that allow users to trade material legally, such as live concert BitTorrent sites. These sites allow users to trade concerts via BitTorrent, with permission from the traded artists to do so. Some open source software projects also encourage using BitTorrent to help ease the load on their own servers.
Should I Use BitTorrent?
Well, that question is one you have to answer on your own. There are legal ways to use BitTorrent, so if you are a regular downloader of files legally, then it is a protocol worth being familiar with. Personally, I enjoy trading concerts with people, which is not illegal, and without BitTorrent, it would be nearly impossible. But when it comes to movies, television shows, and music albums, you are running the same risk as the old days of Napster. The major studios are not happy with the business they are losing to file-sharing software, and are going after people. The RIAA is suing teenagers for downloading songs, HBO is sending cease-and-desist letters to ISPs who are allowing BitTorrent use on their bandwidth, and movie studios are fighting the illegal distribution of their movies as well.
My suggestion is to be familiar with BitTorrent, because there are many, many legal files to be shared with this protocol. It is worth having it and being familiar with it. But legally speaking, my advice is to never download copyrighted material from anyone unless you are paying for it legally. Stick to iTunes and the like for copyrighted work. But get on board with BitTorrent for open source, or legally traded material. It is definitely worth knowing how it works and having it available.
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For more on BitTorrents:
Wikipedia
Protocol Specifications
BitTorrent Clients
DMOZ Open Directory Project BitTorrent Directory
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