PC Magazine - 2009 11.pdf - Libertad Zero

FEEDbackThe Web browser is also very fast. I’d recommendactually using the device before bashingit.—“Grooper”Gnutella is Here to StayIn your news story, “LimeWire CEO: FirmHas Added P2P Protections,” what thosepoliticians, and apparently the author, failto realize is that LimeWire is not a networkbut simply one of many programs peoplecan use to connect to the Gnutella network.Because Gnutella is an open network,nobody can claim ownership or control overthe people who use that open and publicnetwork.Don’t forget that Gnutella was designedfrom the ground up to be totally decentralizedso that no person, company, or evenwhole leagues of nations can tamper withor shut it down. Trying to blame LimeWirefor what happens on Gnutella is like tryingto get Microsoft to block all porn on theInternet. The end result would be the same:Real people would ignore the misguidedattempts. Sheer force of numbers gives thepublic an advantage over anyone trying totake away such a freedom.Peer-to-peer technologies like Gnutellaand BitTorrent aren’t going away. Nor will thedesire of the public to explore the wealth ofknowledge and culture these technologieshave made available.—Aaron Walkhouse