Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Case #2: Warner Bros. and BitTorrent

When I started reading this case, I asked my fiance if he was familiar with BitTorrent. His response was, "Yes, that's what (friend who shall remain nameless) uses to download movies illegally."
BitTorrent certainly took the right approach to avoid illegal usage of its technology by partnering with MPAA and dilligently policing its site. But the fact of the matter is that if there is a way to get content for free, certain users will pursue it; regardless of whether or not it's legal.
Having seen the music industry earn their lesson the hard way, it's admirable that Warner Bros. attempted to stay ahead of the technological curve by entering into the agreement with BitTorrent. It will be interesting to see how sustainable this business model is, and if any other similar partnerships follow.

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