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Avalanche – Microsoft's P2P File Sharing Program

What is Avalanche?

Avalanche is Microsoft’s version of a peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing program. P2P involves sharing files over the Internet, whether they are music files, image files, or text files. With respect to Avalanche, the program is supposed to solve some of the problems associated with one of its biggest competitors, BitTorrent, including copyright infringement. Avalanche is not yet readily available, because researchers in the UK are currently developing the program.

How is Avalanche Different?

Code-named Avalanche by Microsoft, the file sharing program divides the content that is to be shared into smaller blocks of data that can be easily shared. Avalanche also uses “network coding,” which means that it can recreate missing blocks of data that can be used in place of the missing chunks.

Also, unlike some other file-sharing software programs, Avalanche uses desktop PCs for file distribution instead of relying upon servers or network links.

Additionally, Avalanche differs from BitTorrent in that it doesn’t use trackers. Instead, Avalanche shares the files automatically without having to search each individual hard drive.

Avalanche Will Please Users and Copyright Holders

Microsoft is saying that Avalanche will provide an attractive alternative that will mesh well with both users and copyright holders. Perhaps the most significant piece of information for copyright holders is that with Avalanche, users will not be able to redistribute any kind of content with approval by the publisher. This feature is an example of one way Microsoft is aiming to curtail illegal file sharing.

Avalanche could very well be a response to the Motion Picture Association’s clamors for companies like BitTorrent to be shut down. The MPA has said the amount of copyrighted work that is currently being shared is a strong indication of widespread online piracy.

Avalanche and Digital Rights Management

Avalanche’s efforts to reduce online piracy are an example of a digital rights management system (DRM) that, eventually, could help to reduce the amount of illegally traded Internet content as well as increase the amount of legal content being traded. Pursuing individuals who break copyright laws is a very time-intensive and costly project, and representatives from the MPA say that they would much rather work to find a legal solution to the problem than scurrying after select individuals.

While researchers in the UK admitted in June of 2005 that Avalanche was not quite ready for release, they also hinted that the release time might be soon.