Comcast Blocks P2P Applications
Peer to Peer (P2P) file-sharing is a common method by which to transfer large amounts of data to disperse users. Instead of having the information on one server, with multiple clients connected to the server, P2P networks let clients (users) connect directly to other clients and share the files from client to client. P2P sharing networks typically require specific software to access the sharing network. Networks built with this structure can be more efficient to propagate files from user to user, because each user shares bandwidth to upload to the next user instead of everyone downloading from a centralized server. Comcast previously said that their High-speed Internet service would not block or limit the usage of P2P sharing programs such as Bittorrent or LimeWire. Unfortunately for consumers, Comcast has been surreptitiously intervening in their customer’s file sharing and severely reducing the downloading speeds available to customers or in some cases causing sharing to fail completely.
P2P Usage Not Just for Copyright infringement
Comcast initially denied manipulating P2P bandwidth but eventually admitted to using technology to disrupt P2P file transfers. Comcast’s explanation for implementing the technology was that P2P applications are used by a small quantity of High-speed internet subscribers, but they use a high percentage of bandwidth, which affects the speed for all users. P2P file sharing has had a historical connection to copyright infringement (Napster, KaZaa) but recently consumers have been using programs such as BitTorrent for legitimate file sharing. Aspiring artists have used BitTorrent to publish their music or videos to the web, and other users have used BitTorrent to download open-source software, such as Linux OS’es or other open source software. Comcast’s actions to covertly disrupt P2P file sharing specifically goes against publicized statements and advertisements of the unrestricted access Comcast High-Speed internet subscribers would enjoy when signing up for broadband cable internet connections.
Contact US
Seeger Weiss LLP is investigating claims of Comcast subscribers who have had their legitimate P2P file sharing disrupted by Comcast’s intervention in torrent or other P2P traffic for a class action. If you have experienced failed torrents or an extremely low data transfer rate while sharing legitimate content (not content whose sharing is a violation of copyright) please fill out the contact form linked below. Attorney consultations incur no obligation on your part. All initial consultations are free of charge and do not create an attorney-client relationship. Seeger Weiss LLP has office locations in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma and its attorneys are available to practice in courts throughout the country
Link To Lawyer Seek's Comcast P2P Intervention Content:
<a href='http://www.lawyerseek.com/Practice/Consumer-Protection-C21/Comcast-P2P-Intervention-P191/'>Comcast P2P Intervention: Lawyer Seek</a> |
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