This new technology was the ability to have trackerless torrents. In order to accomplish this, the DHT was created. This DHT creates a unique hash key for each and every bit torrent file. This then got rid of the need for the torrent files except for the fact that some torrent software, use a different plug-in to make the hash keys. The keys then may be different and make it unable to be shared to anyone that does not use their particular bit torrent client software.

Another big change is the use of a virtual torrent in which your software sends an instant message to any other computer using the same software to tell them what files you are sharing. All of this of course had made the crack down on software, movie and music piracy much harder, but they can still find out who is stealing their intellectual data.

There was then the capability of sharing bits of data without the need of HTTP protocols. Utilizing an RSS feed, your bit torrent or P2P software announces the file that you have and who you are currently sharing with to the other users in the network. This eventually creates basically a full-mesh network with redundant paths between multiple file sources. Even if you cannot connect directly to that other computer, you can push USD to another computer that is connected with it and basically request that the other computer connect with you instead of vice versa.

Due to the simple fact that the bit torrent protocol and its traffic take up a substantial amount of an ISP’s traffic, there have been attempts to shut it down, so in response, you can now encrypt both incoming and outgoing connections. The ISP may inject TCP RST packets into the data stream if it suspects the transfers to be a bit torrent protocol and therefore slowing the connections down.

Then came the multitracker. The capabilities for a bit torrent client software to monitor multiple trackers of the same file in order to allow not just more connections, but also a sort of back-up incase one tracker gets lost, or worse, taken down by the force of the various copyright authorities.

As of right now, there are already many different technologies that have been built on as well as in conjunction with the bit torrent protocol. As times change and as there are more attempts to shut down the file sharing networks around the world, many more types of technology will be introduced in order to counter any attempts to shut the networks down.

Although by technicality, this would not be considered illegal, many countries have gone out of the way to ensure that the “road map” to copyrighted data is illegal, while still allowing it to be legal to ask for direction to a drug house or an illegal arms dealer.

The biggest issue with the bit torrent client software as well as with the entire bit torrent protocol, is that the IP address are shared with the users involved with that particular file. Many times, when a bit torrent indexing website is raided by the various copyright authorities, what they really want is the logs themselves. It is with these logs that the copyright authorities can find out who you are and come knocking at your door. It may sound funny, but it has actually happened in several counties. In one case, a letter was sent to the parent of a kid who had been downloading copyrighted anime, and the parents were required to pay the damages for the data that their child had illegally downloaded.

Although, luckily for many, the bit torrent protocol now includes a DHT, or a hash key which allows for file sharing without the need of a tracker. Thanks to this hash key, which is unique for every different file, one can download and make connections with others in the network without their IP being logged by the torrent indexing website, unless for some reason, you originally access the file by means of the various indexing websites.

Although there are many possible legal defenses available to the various bit torrent indexing websites as well as to the creators of the various bit torrent client software, you as a downloader do not have many options when it comes to a legal defense regarding copyrighted data. Just think back to when the whole Napster issue went down and that there were several school kids that got criminal records for downloading copyrighted data.

The simple fact is, if you decide to download a movie, song or software that you know costs money to purchase, you are committing piracy and it is possible for you to have charges pressed against you for violating copyright laws. Regardless as to the fact that the movie may have been made in the US and you live in the Philippines. It is still illegal, if you were to get caught with that movie, song or software on a disc while boarding a plane to go to another country, you can go to jail. Many countries have their own copyright laws that will also run in coordination with international laws which will allow for the various copyright authorities to come after you if they so wish to do so.

When a bit torrent index website gets raided by the various possible government and copyright authorities, two things may happen. The first possibility is the complete shut down of the web server to prevent the future spread of various copyrighted data. The other possibility, is what most people have seen upon visiting the many bit torrent indexing websites. The warnings. These warnings are usually a compromise between government authorities, copyright authorities and the web site owner him/her self. They simply state that there is a possibility that the various .torrent files that you may be downloading may contain copyrighted data.

Although, this is less of a warning, and more of a friendly gesture as the majority of bit torrent clients visit the sites to find the copy righted data.

Lets take the first possibility. This would be newly released movies. Some people may not have access to watch these movies, or depending on their location, the cost may be too great. They turn to the utilization of bit torrent client software to get their movie mojo fix. The same can be said for virtually any possible copyrighted data.

This is not an excuse to break the law regardless.

It is because of this, that the many bit torrent indexing services have had to make compromises with various authorities both locally and internationally. There is always a high probability of downloading copyrighted data. But lets face the facts. A warning that states that you may or may not be downloading intellectual copyrights of another, is mainly ignored due to the possibility that you are infact at the indexing site to get copyrighted data.

The truth is. That if there was no such thing as copyrighted data, there would most likely never be a need for bit torrent client software, since you could simply go to Microsoft and download the latest copy of their operating system free of charge. But then that would not work, because then Bill Gates would not be the richest man on the face of the planet.

Although, compromises generally are more of a forced reconciliation on the website’s side and no of the intellectual copyright holder’s side. Otherwise we would see lower prices for the thing that we are planning to download.

As it has been stated before though, the law is the law and it must be obeyed, and it is for this reason that the bit torrent indexing websites have become targets for the copyright authorities. It is not physically possible for the various copyright authorities to go after everyone. As a matter of fact, they cannot. Even according to US law, if you were to purchase a pirated movie, the one who gave you access to that movie is the one who would be responsible. The same goes for the indexing websites. Due to the fact that they are a channel or means for one to access pirated data, in general, they are the one who would take the burden of the punishment. They also believe, that by shutting down the bit torrent indexing websites that they will stop the trade of intellectual data. In reality, if the indexing services were shut down, there would always be another way to access this data.