Gnutella, on the other hand, is one of several decentralized file-sharing networks that aren't businesses and have no central control. That means there's nobody at these networks for the labels to sue--just the consumers who use them. Security experts say that . . .
Gnutella, on the other hand, is one of several decentralized file-sharing networks that aren't businesses and have no central control. That means there's nobody at these networks for the labels to sue--just the consumers who use them. Security experts say that controlling piracy on Gnutella is a daunting task, given the number of users and the amount of data being transferred. But one effect of the RIAA's recent moves may be to put the fear of detection into the hearts of Gnutella users, who thus far have been cloaked in anonymity.

"To me, it's posturing," said Bruce Forest, vice president of media and entertainment for Sapient, an Internet consulting firm. "That basically is a, 'I've kicked Napster's [rear] and now I'm coming after Gnutella users.' It's a scare tactic."

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