Citilab published a post today about the implications of the P3P protocol:

P3P is a protocol which permits websites to declare the use of information which they collect about the users who visit them, and is designed to give users more control about personal information when using the Internet. P3P was developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and therefore is not a new protocol for file-sharing, like P4P, but a group of procedures to make a profit from the exchanging of files.

In Spain file-sharing is not illegal if it is not done for financial gain. The organisations which manage intellectual rights claim that they want to stop piracy, ensuring that downloads are not free and that artists receive payment for their work. Users on the other hand, are designing new systems for sharing content, with the intention of avoiding being manipulated or observed by companies or to escape from the control of governmental organisations.

The members of the P3P Working Group have been the first to try to provide a viable and beneficial solution for businesses and users. Some of the members (among which is Telefónica) think that it is possible to find a profitable business model for companies which is reasonable for the clients and for this reason are proposing the payment of a tax for each broadband connection to legalise file sharing.

The Distributed Computing Industry Association (DCIA), made up of content providers, software developers and distributors, and service-and-support companies, believes that inevitably P2P will be accepted as a distribution method and that business models similar to that of the Isle of Man, which is proposing a new law that would allow its residents immunity from prosecution for illegal downloading of copyrighted material by paying a flat monthly fee which will added to the price of the broadband. In this way fees would be redistributed to copyright holders and the public would not have to “hide”.

Read the full post here: English, Castellano, Català