Over the past five years, file-sharing technologies have become synonymous in the public mind with piracy. Movies, music and software have all grabbed the headlines, as their associated industry leaders have made the case against the use of peer-to-peer (P2P) technologies.

From Napster to Kazaa and Limewire to BitTorrent, the argument has been well defended in both the media and the courts ­ with an expectation that individuals involved in P2P activities should be warned before losing service.

Some experts have also suggested that ISPs should be made responsible for monitoring such “illegal” interests.

However, it is important to recognise that the legal threat is based on the myth that file sharing and piracy are indistinguishable.

Over the past 12 months, there has been steady growth in the use of file sharing to support global users with low-bandwidth connections and limited access to public domain materials.

Tarred with same brush

P2P networks were built on the premise of collaboration and community ­ and the question of how ISPs will distinguish between pirates and individuals to support those on the wrong side of the digital divide remains unanswered.

UK charity AbilityNet has long been at the forefront of innovations that promote accessible technologies. The organisation’s desktop broadcasting and virtual learning environments support hundreds of learners, delivering on-demand support at low cost.

Many more disabled people have been able to access advice through the use of voice over IP, videoconferencing and screen sharing.

AbilityNet recently established a database of free and open-source assistive technologies, available at www.abilitynet.org.uk/athome_shareware.

Developed with the support of voluntary partnership the ICT Hub and funded by support specialist Capacity Builders, the database allows individuals and organisations to find software that can help disabled people use computers ­ including tools for people with dyslexia, physical difficulties and vision impairments.
Most tools are easy to download and AbilityNet has received interest from across Eastern Europe and as far as Uganda.

Legal file sharing

When it comes to distributing the tools, the idea that software can be legally disseminated through file sharing is well established. Linux distributions or applications have been easily available via torrent trackers, such as www.legittorrents.info and linuxtracker.org.

However, such trackers must be carefully moderated to ensure licence criteria are met. AbilityNet developed a password-protected BitTorrent tracker, where approved users could access and download a list of free shareware and trial software titles that have been made available by the authors.

The first products to become available for voluntary sector organisations were ISO images, archive files supported by many suppliers of AbilityNet’s own successful computing and office sense compact discs.

More recently, assistive applications specialist FX Software has agreed to offer popular freeware applications on its own network.

The BitTorrent tracker connects to a series of volunteers who seed the network with copies of the programs, ensuring that any user who needs a copy can have one, regardless of the speed or consistency of their internet connection.

There are great advantages to such a method of application distribution. First, tools can be distributed through a number of volunteers who ensure the torrents are always available. Second, AbilityNet does not have to maintain high bandwidth connections to allow multiple downloads of solutions.

However, the opportunity to share useful tools will be under threat if court action to prevent file sharing becomes more widespread.

The potential to help people in the UK and across the world will remain untapped, as vested interests conspire to ban a technology on the grounds that some users behave in a socially irresponsible fashion.

Such issues surface as each generation of new technology evolves ­ chatrooms, web sites, forums, video sharing and social networks have all been subject to debate.

Blocked without reason

This has sometimes led to the closure of many platforms, while still more have had their internet protocol address blocked by public organisations or internet service providers.

Experts need to be aware that the use of a whole form of technology could potentially be limited because of commercial pressures.

Not only could the distribution of independent music and films be affected, but also access to legally available software, books and media.

At a time when the need to bridge the digital divide is being recognised as a global issue, limiting the use of technologies that can build bridges seems at best contrary and at worst deliberately doctrinaire and arbitrary.

David Banes is development director of national computing at disability charity AbilityNet