This week, BitTorrent.com launched a new initiative in an attempt to make digital distribution more profitable for creators and fans. Users can download a BitTorrent bundle with free content from an artist and get the option to install free, sponsored software from one of BitTorrent's advertising partners. Every time a user downloads the free software, the advertising partner pays BitTorrent and the artist gets a share of the revenue. DJ Shadow is the first artist to launch a BitTorrent Bundle. 

Eric Klinker, BitTorrent's CEO, believes that new business models built on top of the BitTorrent ecosystem are the future of content. "This is where fans are. It's time to bring artists, filmmakers and game developers into that conversation in meaningful ways too", he says on his blog. Nowadays, the BitTorrent technology meets resistance in the music industry because it is often used for piracy. However, the music industry is not against these technologies as such. Offering new ways to use BitTorrent in a legal way could be a solution for both users and creators.

It's too soon to tell if BitTorrent's initiative will become a significant source of income for artists. Though, as the battle against piracy intensifies, FutureOfCopyright is happy to see that platforms are innovating and offering users legal alternatives to illegal downloads. 

Source: BitTorrent

By: Marjolein van der Heide