P2P (Peer-to-Peer) File Sharing Require Exploitation Prevention for Paid Content
• P2P file sharing provides a powerful content distribution model by leveraging users' computing and bandwidth resources. However, content providers have been reluctant to rely on P2P systems for paid or copyrighted content distribution (e.g. movies, videos, songs) due to their inability to limit the exploitation of these systems for free file sharing. Instead they rely on ""direct download"" methods such as contracting Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) such as Akamai.
Content Distribution Authentication with Prevention Mechanisms Layered onto P2P Systems
• This application describes, among other things, a concept and a prototype of a P2P system with a level of trust and control over content distribution similar to direct download content delivery networks.
• The proposed system uses two mechanisms that can be layered on top of existing P2P systems. First, it provides strong authentication to reduce and ideally prevent free file sharing in the system. Second, it introduces a new notion of trusted auditors to detect and limit malicious attempts to gain information about participants in the system to facilitate additional out-of-band free file sharing.