Free anti-P2P tool for parents

Hollywood has an interest in keeping kids' file-sharing under control, and now they've delivered on it. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) is providing free software called "Parent File Scan" that scans your computer for P2P programs and movie and music files. Here's a review and explanation of how the software works at Freedom to Tinker, personal blog of Princeton University computer science Prof. Edward Felten. He and other experts recommend care in deleting files because the software makes no distinction between legal and illegal ones. If anything, this software is best used as a tool for discussion with our kids about what they're downloading and sharing. Here's advice on teen file-sharing from a tech-literate dad and my feature, "File-sharing realities for families." On the MPAA's software, here's coverage from CNET and the BBC. In addition, the MPAA just filed its second round of lawsuits against film file-sharers, CNET reports, and the RIAA just sued 717 more tune-swappers.

Meanwhile, downloading TV shows (without the expense of TiVo or a cable box) is becoming quite the phenomenon, the New York Times reports. The Times cites BigChampagne.com research showing that, in one week last month, The Simpsons, the No. 1 "Most Shared Show," was shared 924,143 times. Then there's high-minded file-sharing (e.g., P2P communities built around Japanese anime), which also is technically illegal. An example is Anime-Faith, which uses BitTorrent P2P technology. CNET reports insightfully and in depth.