Ars Technica published an intriguing piece by Nate Anderson today predicting that file-sharing programs like the new version of Lime Wire will lead to users just swapping files among friends. These private sharing networks are oftentimes called darknets, and Anderson believes that entertainment companies should be afraid of them because they puts users out of reach of their P2P investigations. People that don’t share their files publicly can’t be sued, and darknet-like features in applications as popular as Lime Wire could have a dramatic impact on the entertainment industry’s efforts to enforce their rights online, Anderson believes.

I have a problem with this argument for a number of reasons: First of all, it’s overstating the need for darknets. Users haven’t felt like they had to hide in the past, and I don’t think they’ll go underground now that the music industry has announced its intention to stop filing lawsuits. Secondly, darknets just don’t work all that well for video content. And finally, looking at person-to-person file-sharing features through just your darknet glasses is severely underestimating their potential to make P2P more social. Continue reading on Newteevee.com.