
Anonymity is a major factor in the lasting success of newsgroups. Being
one of the first internet services developed, newsgroups have little account-
ability and leave behind a very thin audit trail. Source IP addresses of those
who upload and download are not recorded. Additionally, information is
stored remotely on a server so clients are not legally responsible or liable
for distributing pirated information, as is the case with peer 2 peer.
How long will it last? Who knows? Do the RIAA even know what a
newsgroup is?
Even Usenet.com is aware of its success in the piracy market; new
accounts created now cost a fee. Users are billed extra for excessi ...