DALnet bans file-trading

[guyver01]

DALnet channels for chat, not files

Effective March 1, 2003 DALnet will be enforcing a change to its Acceptable Use Policy (http://www.dal.net/aup) which will prohibit "Using a channel for the primary purpose of facilitating the transfer of files".

DALnet is by its very nature a Chat Network. Its purpose is for people around the world to join together in channels and converse about subjects of their choosing. New technologies have sprung forth since the birth of DALnet back in 1994. Programs such as Kazaa and Napster have generated a desire for Internet users to freely transfer files. They have also generated a large amount of controversy regarding the legality of doing so. DALnet is not, nor does it wish to be thought of as, a file sharing network.

While we recognize that the transfers themselves do not happen on our network, and are a product of a direct connection between the clients involved, we have chosen to not support channels who primary focus is the distribution of files. Though we respect the right of our users to transfer files between themselves on a limited basis, should our staff determine that a channel exists for the primary purpose of facilitating such transfers, it will be deemed in violation of our Acceptable Use Policy and closed.

 

[mpitts]

Wow. I wonder how they plan on enforcing this.

 

[mchammer187]

didnt they try that before and get tons of DOS attacks?

 

[mpitts]

Originally posted by: mchammer187
didnt they try that before and get tons of DOS attacks?

From the article:

Q. I can't connect to DALnet. Why is that?
A. DALnet has recently been the victim of ongoing Distributed Denial of Service attacks. There are people out there with control of an enormous number of exploited computers from which they can launch an attack that uses up all the available bandwidth of a remote computer. The result is, their attacks keep you from connecting to our servers. And as such, our "pool" of servers (irc.dal.net) is usually not open for connections. However, many client servers are open and accepting direct connections, and we continue to work to provide more and more room for people to chat on our network.

 

[rpc64]

Wow that sure is a big change for DALnet. It will be interesting to see how things work out.

 

[skace]

too bad dalnet sucks, i pity anyone using that network.

 

[QTPie]

so which is the good one then?

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: QTPie
so which is the good one then?

EFNet has always been my network of choice.

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: rpc64
Wow that sure is a big change for DALnet. It will be interesting to see how things work out.

They'll end up closing shop when people don't use their network.

Do they really think that many people want to use IRC to chat?

 

[Lord Evermore]

Closing up shop...hmmm...providing a free service, using bandwidth and servers donated by people, and they get a reduction in abusive and illegal usage. Yeah, they're just going to shut down when the warez kids leave.

All they can do to enforce it is shut down channels they find to be in violation. They can't actually stop a DCC transfer.

Maybe the Internet will get faster for awhile before the warez people figure out a new way to do it.