BigShinyThing

At the moment, BitTorrent’s technology can be used for illegally copying movies and TV shows over the Internet. While downloading a movie, BitTorrent’s technology takes parts of the file from different sources simultaneously, thereby facilitating a quicker download of the movie - what geeks term peer to peer or P2P.

Under the terms of this agreement, Bram Cohen, founder and CEO of BitTorrent, has agreed to remove links which direct users to pirated content. It is said that the deal might also pave the way for eventual adoption of BitTorrent’s technology by movie studios for new, legal services. Bittorrent is currently used by an estimated 45 million people and has become a bete noire for the movie and TV industries. This move signals Cohen’s intent to cuddle up to the mainstream - potentially with an eye on future legitimate content distribution deals. He even disclosed in September that his company had raised $8.75 million in venture funding to develop commercial distribution tools for media companies.

However, as Wired points out, the decentralised nature of P2P technology means that piracy remains hard to trace and prevent. This agreement with Cohen will not prevent determined internet users from finding movies or other materials using tools or websites other than Cohen’s, it simply removes the most high profile player from that particular game.