Filesharers Beware

BayTSP's new monitoring technology continually scours file-sharing networks for the first time a bootlegged movie or piece of software is distributed; it then downloads a copy of the file for verification purposes and captures the computer's Internet Protocol address and information identifying others who are downloading and sharing the pirated material.

Dawn C. Chmielewski of Mercury News reports that FirstSource addresses two needs of the copyright cartel:

It identifies the hard-core pirates who contribute to massive online piracy by providing unauthorized copies. And it quantifies the number of illicit copies made from the original bootleg -- information that's helpful in assessing damages in the event a copyright-infringement lawsuit is filed.