Meta-Sharing or Free Advertising?
According to an article in the New Scientist, the music industry has developed a new “legitimate“ file-sharing solution. Uh oh is right. Called the Content Reference Forum or CRF, the standard allows people to trade files over the existing P2P networks about, say, the new Britney Spears single, but not traffic in the copy-protected ditty itself. Once received, that file could then be used by a consumer to suck down the song legally from a so-called “Content Reference Server.” The referrer would get some kind of payback from the record label that could later be cashed in toward other merchandise.
This isn’t file-sharing, it’s viral marketing with payola attached. The Universal Music Group, founder of the Forum, is trying to milk the peer-to-peer culture as a new kind of free advertising system. But who’d want to download a 13-year-old’s shrill endorsement of the new Offspring CD besides the kid’s mother? If anything, the only way this technology might fight piracy is by duping the people who mistakenly downloaded a referral instead of a song.
Deep Dive
Uncategorized

It will soon be easy for self-driving cars to hide in plain sight. We shouldn’t let them.
If they ever hit our roads for real, other drivers need to know exactly what they are.

Maximize business value with data-driven strategies
Every organization is now collecting data, but few are truly data driven. Here are five ways data can transform your business.

Cryptocurrency fuels new business opportunities
As adoption of digital assets accelerates, companies are investing in innovative products and services.

Where to get abortion pills and how to use them
New US restrictions could turn abortion into do-it-yourself medicine, but there might be legal risks.
Stay connected

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.