OFFSystem
 | |
| Stable release | 0.19.34
/ October 28, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Repository |
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| Operating system | Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac |
| Type | P2P |
| License | GNU General Public License |
| Website | http://offsystem.sf.net |
The Owner-Free File System (OFF System, or OFF for short) is a peer-to-peer distributed file system through which all shared files are represented by randomized multi-used data blocks. The system is referred to as a brightnet to contrast its method of operation with that of private file sharing systems known as darknets. OFF was created with the expressed intention "to cut off some gangrene-infested bits of the copyright industry."
History
On August 14, 2006, CaptainMorgan of The Big Hack posted a letter of "closing" addressed to the "Copyright Industry Associations of America" (such as the RIAA and MPAA), stating that they have created OFF with the purpose of ending "all of your problems with consumer copyright infringement."[1]
Today we announce a massively distributed copy-less file system. A place where all content is available instantly, anonymously and to everyone, without breaking any laws. Today we announce the Owner-Free File System. An island of sanity in your sea of madness.
How it works
Upon file insertion, the OFFSystem creates randomized multi-used "blocks" of data, each one 128Kb in size. After insertion, a URL is created which can later be used to re-assemble user-added (non-random) data into its original form.
Essentially, the OFFSystem works on the same principle as a weak one time pad (commonly used for encrypting messages during World War II). A block of random numbers is associated to a cypher key. Because the numbers in the data block are random, only the key gives them meaning. This allows the same block to be used with multiple keys to represent different parts of different messages.
Notably for plausible deniability, any given block may used for an infinite number of files for reconstruction purposes, thus making it impossible for an entity to claim that any one block should fall under their copyright. No data stored in the system is encrypted, compressed, or split into chunks because it does not represent the original data inserted to begin with.
Transmission of non-copyrighted material
It can be seen with the OFFSystem that randomized multi-use data blocks used in copyrighted works can be used to represent portions of various non-copyrighted works, and the other way around. Only the combination of specific data blocks paired with the key pertaining to a particular file to be retrieved allows any human-readable content to be accessed.
As a result of the randomized multi-used way that the OFFSystem stores data, it is argued that no set of blocks is any more copyrighted than another. It then becomes apparent that no data bearing a direct relationship to any copyrighted material is ever transferred between peers. All retrieval of any creative works is done exclusively on the user's local machine.
Brightnets vs. darknets
The OFF System has been described by its proponents as a "brightnet" in order to contrast its operation with that of private darknets or anonymized peer to peer systems such as freenet. Instead of hiding the users' IP addresses, the shared data is randomized multi-used and can only be retrieved if all required blocks are present in addition to the retrieval URL. Individually, however, each block is nothing more than arbitrary digital white noise because it is randomized. The data stored in the OFFSystem can not be considered a derivative work of the original content because it is multi-used.
While users of a darknet may attempt to share copyrighted material via obfuscation methods (encryption, masking IP, limited number of trusted users), a brightnet shares no copyrighted material because no one can claim ownership any of the randomized multi-used data blocks stored in the system.
Overhead in practise
The trickery used to make this a legal means of data distribution comes with some overhead, varying between 50 to 200% according to the configuration of OFF.
Example: to replicate a 1 MB mp3 at the receiver's end, you need:
- 3.0 MB transferred data for light users, with small local caches, assigned upload, uptime.
- 1.5 MB transferred data for heavy users, with large local caches, assigned upload, uptime.
References
- ^ The Digital Douwd letter declaring war on the Copyright Industry Associations of America.
External links
- OFF System Development homepage
- OFF System download (Sourceforge)
- On copyrightable numbers with an application to the Gesetzklageproblem - A detailed explanation of the mathematical principles behind the OFF System. (pdf)
- OFF System support forum (deutsch) Support forum for OFF System.
- OFF System support forum (english) Support forum for OFF System.