Method and system for preventing the infringement of intellectual property rights

• US 20020152261A1
• Filed: 04/17/2001
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Peerpressure, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Peerpressure, Inc.
• Inventors: Weiser, Daniel, Inderbitzin, Kurt, Arkin, Jed
• Application Number:
  US09/836,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20020152261A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1063 Discovery through centralising entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

System for preventing the infringement of intellectual property rights including a searching server for identifying an infringing item in a network, a production server for producing modified copies of IP protected items and a sharing structure for sharing the modified copies over the network. The sharing structure includes a plurality of repositories and a plurality of sharing users. The repositories are mainly storage units storing many copies of the modified copies. The sharing users share the modified copies over the network either by uploading the modified copies from the repositories there through to a downloading node across the network, or by directing the downloading node to download directly from the repositories.

Claims

1. Searching server for identifying at least one infringing item in a network, the searching server comprising:

a sniffing user coupled to said network; and

a characteristics database coupled to said sniffing user, said characteristics database including at least one Intellectual Property (IP) item characteristic of at least one IP item;

wherein said sniffing user detects said at least one infringing item in a directory coupled to said network, said sniffing user retrieves at least one infringing item characteristic of said at least one infringing item from said network, and

wherein said system identifies said at least one infringing item, by comparing said at least one infringing item characteristic of said at least one infringing item, with said at least one IP item characteristic.

2. The searching server according to claim 1, wherein said searching server further comprises a signature database coupled to said sniffing user, said signature database including an IP item signature of each of said at least one IP item, and

wherein, said sniffing user downloads at least a portion of said at least one infringing item from said network, and

wherein said sniffing user identifies said at least one infringing item, by producing an infringing item signature for said at least one infringing item, and comparing said infringing item signature with said IP item signature.

3. The searching server according to claim 1, wherein said searching server further comprises a content database coupled to said sniffing user, said content database including the content of said at least one IP item.

4. The searching server according to claim 3, wherein said searching server downloads an infringing item content of said at least one infringing item form said network, and compares said infringing item content with an IP item content of said at least one IP item.

5. The searching server according to claim 2, wherein said searching server further comprises a content database coupled to said sniffing user and to said signature database, said content database including the content of said at least one IP item.

6. The searching server according to claim 5, wherein said searching server downloads an infringing item content of said at least one infringing item form said network, and compares said infringing item content with an IP item content of said at least one IP item.

7. The searching server according to claim 2, wherein said searching server is the owner of said at least one IP item.

8. The searching server according to claim 2, wherein said searching server is authorized to perform an action on behalf of the owner of said at least one IP item.

9. The searching server according to claim 8, wherein said action is selected from the list consisting of:

modifying said at least one IP item;

uploading said at least one modified IP item to a user; and

enabling the availability of said at least one modified IP item on said network.

10. The searching server according to claim 2, wherein said sniffing user detects said at least one infringing item in said directory and downloads at least a portion of said at least one infringing item from at least one share-infringing user coupled to said network.

11. The searching server according to claim 3, wherein said sniffing user detects said at least one infringing item in said directory and downloads at least a portion of said at least one infringing item from at least one share-infringing user coupled to said network.

12. The searching server according to claim 1, wherein the type of said directory is selected from the list consisting of:

centralized;

distributed; and

search engine.

13. The searching server according to claim 1, wherein the type of the connection between said directory and said network is selected from the list consisting of:

wireless link; and

wired.

14. The searching server according to claim 1, wherein the type of the connection between said sniffing user and said network is selected from the list consisting of:

wireless link; and

wired.

15. The searching server according to claim 10, wherein the type of the connection between said at least one share-infringing user and said network is selected from the list consisting of:

wireless link; and

wired.

16. The searching server according to claim 1, wherein the type of said network is selected from the list consisting of:

publicly accessed network; and

network application.

17. The searching server according to claim 10, wherein the type of said at least one share-infringing user is selected from the list consisting of:

workstation;

desktop;

laptop;

mobile unit; and

network user application.

18. The searching server according to claim 3, wherein the type of said content is selected from the list consisting of:

audio;

video;

software;

computer game

data; and

e-book.

19. The searching server according to claim 5, wherein the type of said content is selected from the list consisting of:

audio;

video;

software;

computer game;

data; and

e-book.

20. The searching server according to claim 1, wherein a translator is coupled to said network, said translator produces a translated name for said at least one infringing item and for said at least one IP item, according to said at least one infringing item characteristic and to said at least one IP item characteristic, respectively, for identifying said translated name by at least one user associated with said translator.

21. The searching server according to claim 1, wherein said production server is further coupled to a translator, said translator producing a translated name for said at least one infringing item and for said at least one IP item, according to said at least one infringing item characteristic and to said at least one IP item characteristic, respectively, for identifying said translated name by at least one user associated with another translator similar to said translator.

22. The searching server according to claim 20, wherein said production server further comprises said translator.

23. The searching server according to claim 20, wherein said production server is coupled to said translator over said network.

24. The searching server according to claim 1, wherein said at least one infringing item characteristic is identical with said at least one IP item characteristic.

25. The searching server according to claim 1, wherein said at least one infringing item characteristic is similar to said at least one IP item characteristic.

26. The searching server according to claim 1, wherein said sniffing user periodically changes at least one attribute respective thereof.

27. The searching server according to claim 26, wherein said at least one attribute is selected from the list consisting of:

network interface card identification;

logical user name;

network service provider; and

network protocol address.

28. The searching server according to claim 1, wherein said at least one IP item characteristic is selected from the list consisting of:

title;

file size;

category;

date of production;

producer; and

performer.

29. The searching server according to claim 1, wherein said at least one infringing item characteristic is selected from the list consisting of:

title;

file size;

category;

date of production;

producer; and

performer.

30. The searching server according to claim 1, further comprising at least one searching distributed user coupled to said network, said at least one searching distributed user comprising a searching characteristics database, said searching characteristics database including said at least one IP item characteristic,

wherein said at least one searching distributed user detects said at least one infringing item in said directory, said at least one searching distributed user retrieves said at least one infringing item characteristic from said network, and

wherein said at least one searching distributed user identifies said at least one infringing item, by comparing said at least one infringing item characteristic, with said at least one IP item characteristic.

31. The searching server according to claim 30, wherein said at least one searching distributed user further comprises a searching signature database, said searching signature database including an IP item signature of each of said at least one IP item, and

wherein, said at least one searching distributed user identifies said at least one infringing item, by producing an infringing item signature for said at least one infringing item, and comparing said infringing item signature with said IP item signature.

32. The searching server according to claim 30, wherein said at least one searching distributed user detects said at least one infringing item in said directory and downloads at least a portion of said at least one infringing item from at least one share-infringing user, said at least one share-infringing user is coupled to said network, said at least one searching distributed user compares the content of said at least one infringing item with the content of said at least one IP item.

33. The searching server according to claim 30, wherein the type of the connection between said at least one searching distributed user and said network is selected from the list consisting of:

wireless link; and

wired.

34. The searching server according to claim 30, wherein the type of said at least one searching distributed user is selected from the list consisting of:

workstation;

desktop;

laptop;

mobile unit; and

network user application.

35. The searching server according to claim 30, wherein said at least one searching distributed user downloads said searching characteristics database from said searching server.

36. The searching server according to claim 30, wherein said at least one searching distributed user uploads said at least one infringing item characteristic to said searching server.

37. The searching server according to claim 36, wherein said searching server uploads a selected one of said at least one IP item, and a license to use said selected at least one IP item, to said at least one searching distributed user.

38. The searching server according to claim 30, wherein said at least one searching distributed user periodically changes at least one attribute respective thereof.

39. The searching server according to claim 38, wherein said at least one attribute is selected from the list consisting of:

network interface card identification;

logical user name;

network service provider; and

network protocol address.

120. The system according to claim 119, wherein said at least one network interface and said at least one storage unit are integrated in an item sharing server.

40. System for producing intellectual property (IP) item modified copies, the system comprising:

a network interface coupled to a network; and

a processor coupled to said network interface;

wherein said processor produces at least one modified copy from at least one item, said at least one modified copy is to be made available to said network via said network interface.

41. The system according to claim 40, wherein the type of said at least one item is selected from the list consisting of:

Intellectual Property (IP) item; and

Infringing item.

42. The system according to claim 40, wherein the type of content of said at least one item, is selected from the list consisting of:

audio;

video;

software;

computer game;

data; and

e-book.

43. The system according to claim 40, wherein said processor further comprises a translator, said translator produces a translated name for said at least one item, according to at least one item characteristic of said at least one item, respectively.

44. The system according to claim 40, wherein said processor makes said modified copy available to said network by placing a respective modified copy pointer in a directory, said directory being coupled to said network.

45. The system according to claim 44, wherein the type of said directory is selected from the list consisting of:

centralized;

distributed; and

search engine.

46. The system according to claim 40, wherein the type of the connection between said network interface and said network is selected from the list consisting of:

wireless link; and

wired.

47. The system according to claim 40, wherein the type of said network is selected from the list consisting of:

publicly accessed network; and

network application.

48. The system according to claim 40, wherein at least one modified copy characteristic of said at least one modified copy, is identical with at least one item characteristic of said at least one item.

49. The system according to claim 48, wherein said at least one modified copy characteristic is selected from the list consisting of:

title;

file size;

category;

date of production;

producer; and

performer.

50. The system according to claim 40, wherein at least one modified copy characteristic of said at least one modified copy, is similar to at least one item characteristic of said at least one item.

51. The system according to claim 50, wherein said at least one modified copy characteristic is selected from the list consisting of:

title;

file size;

category;

date of production;

producer; and

performer.

52. The system according to claim 40, wherein said at least one modified copy comprises at least two out-of-sequence segments of said at least one item separated by at least one supplementary material.

53. The system according to claim 40, wherein said at least one modified copy comprises at least two out-of-sequence segments of said at least one item followed by at least one supplementary material.

54. The system according to claim 40, wherein a first portion of said at least one modified copy comprises at least a portion of the beginning segment of said at least one item, and a second portion of said at least one modified copy comprises a recurring supplementary material.

55. The system according to claim 40, wherein the size of said at least one modified copy is substantially equal to the size of said at least one item.

56. The system according to claim 40, wherein said processor produces said at least one modified copy, when said at least one item is available to said network.

57. The system according to claim 40, wherein said processor produces said at least one modified copy, when said at least one item is not available to said network.

58. The system according to claim 57, wherein said processor produces said at least one modified copy according to predicted production parameters.

59. The system according to claim 40, wherein said processor produces a plurality of modified copy sets, each of said modified copy sets comprising said at least one modified copy, wherein at least one modified copy characteristic of said at least one modified copy in one of said modified copy sets, is different than said at least one modified copy characteristic in another one of said modified copy sets.

60. The system according to claim 40, wherein said network interface periodically changes at least one attribute respective thereof.

61. The system according to claim 60, wherein said at least one attribute is selected from the list consisting of:

network interface card identification;

logical user name;

network service provider; and

network protocol address.

62. The system according to claim 40, wherein said network interface uploads said at least one modified copy to at least one share-infringing user, at a high quality of service, during the uploading of the beginning portion of said at least one modified copy, and at a low quality of service during the uploading of the remainder of said at least one modified copy.

63. The system according to claim 40, wherein said network interface uploads said at least one modified copy to at least one share-infringing user, and wherein said network interface alternates the quality of service during said uploading between a high value and a low value.

64. The system according to claim 40, wherein said network interface has at least one identity.

65. The system according to claim 64, wherein said at least one identity is selected from the list consisting of:

media access control address;

network protocol address;

user name; and

uniform resource locator.

66. The system according to claim 40, wherein said processor attaches a digital signature of a share-infringing user to said at least one modified copy, by employing a public key of said share-infringing user.

68. The system according to claim 67, wherein the type of said at least one item is selected from the list consisting of:

Intellectual Property (IP) item; and

Infringing item.

69. The system according to claim 67, wherein the type of content of said at least one item, is selected from the list consisting of:

audio;

video;

software;

computer game;

data; and

e-book.

70. The system according to claim 67, wherein the type of said directory is selected from the list consisting of:

centralized;

distributed; and

search engine.

71. The system according to claim 67, wherein said sniffing user detects said at least one infringing item in said directory and downloads at least a portion of said at least one infringing item from at least one share-infringing user coupled to said network.

72. The system according to claim 67, wherein the type of the connection between said directory and said network is selected from the list consisting of:

wireless link; and

wired.

73. The system according to claim 67, wherein the type of the connection between said network interface and said network is selected from the list consisting of:

wireless link; and

wired.

74. The system according to claim 71, wherein the type of the connection between said at least one share-infringing user and said network is selected from the list consisting of:

wireless link; and

wired.

75. The system according to claim 67, wherein the type of said network is selected from the list consisting of:

publicly accessed network; and

network application.

76. The system according to claim 71, wherein the type of said at least one share-infringing user is selected from the list consisting of:

workstation;

desktop;

laptop;

mobile unit; and

network user application.

77. The system according to claim 67, wherein at least one modified copy characteristic of said at least one modified copy, is identical with said at least one item characteristic.

78. The system according to claim 77, wherein said at least one modified copy characteristic is selected from the list consisting of:

title;

file size;

category;

date of production;

producer; and

performer.

79. The system according to claim 67, wherein at least one modified copy characteristic of said at least one modified item, is similar to said at least one item characteristic.

80. The system according to claim 79, wherein said at least one modified copy characteristic is selected from the list consisting of:

title;

file size;

category;

date of production;

producer; and

performer.

81. The system according to claim 67, wherein said at least one modified copy comprises at least two out-of-sequence segments of said at least one item separated by at least one supplementary material.

82. The system according to claim 67, wherein said at least one modified copy comprises at least two out-of-sequence segments of said at least one item followed by at least one supplementary material.

83. The system according to claim 67, wherein a first portion of said at least one modified copy comprises at least a portion of the beginning segment of said at least one item, and a second portion of said at least one modified copy comprises a recurring supplementary material.

84. The system according to claim 67, wherein the size of said at least one modified copy is substantially equal to the size of said at least one item.

85. The system according to claim 67, wherein said processor produces said at least one modified copy, when said at least one item is available to said network.

86. The system according to claim 67, wherein said processor produces said at least one modified copy, when said at least one item is not available to said network.

87. The system according to claim 86, wherein said processor produces said at least one modified copy according to predicted production parameters.

88. The system according to claim 67, wherein said processor produces a plurality of modified copy sets, each of said modified copy sets comprising said at least one modified copy,

wherein at least one modified copy characteristic of said at least one modified copy in one of said modified copy sets, is different than said at least one modified copy characteristic in another one of said modified item sets.

89. The system according to claim 67, wherein said searching server further comprises a signature database coupled to said sniffing user, said signature database including an item signature of each of said at least one item,

wherein, said sniffing user identifies said at least one infringing item, by producing an infringing item signature for said at least one infringing item, and comparing said infringing item signature with said item signature.

90. The system according to claim 67, wherein said searching server is the owner of said at least one item.

91. The system according to claim 67, wherein said searching server is authorized to perform an action on behalf of the owner of said at least one item.

92. The system according to claim 91, wherein said action is selected from the list consisting of:

modifying said at least one item;

uploading said at least one modified item to a user; and

enabling the availability of said at least one modified item on said network.

93. The system according to claim 67, further comprising a content database coupled to said sniffing user, said content database including an item content of said at least one item.

94. The system according to claim 93, wherein said searching server downloads an infringing item content of said at least one infringing item form said network, and compares said infringing item content with said item content.

95. The system according to claim 89, further comprising a content database coupled to said sniffing user and to said signature database, said content database including an item content of said at least one item.

96. The system according to claim 67, wherein a translator is coupled to said network, said translator produces a translated name for said at least one infringing item and for said at least one item, according to said at least one infringing item characteristic and to said at least one item characteristic, respectively, for identifying said translated name by at least one user associated with another translator similar to said translator.

97. The system according to claim 67, wherein said production server is further coupled to a translator, said translator producing a translated name for said at least one infringing item and for said at least one IP item, according to said at least one infringing item characteristic and to said at least one IP item characteristic, respectively, for identifying said translated name by at least one user associated with another translator similar to said translator.

98. The system according to claim 96, wherein said production server further comprises said translator.

99. The system according to claim 96, wherein said production server is coupled to said translator over said network.

100. The system according to claim 67, wherein said sniffing user and said network interface periodically change at least one attribute respective thereof.

101. The system according to claim 100, wherein said at least one attribute is selected from the list consisting of:

network interface card identification;

logical user name;

network service provider; and

network protocol address.

102. The system according to claim 71, wherein said network interface uploads said at least one modified copy to said at least one share-infringing user, at a high quality of service, during the uploading of the beginning portion of said at least one modified copy, and at a low quality of service during the uploading of the remainder of said at least one modified copy.

103. The system according to claim 71, wherein said network interface uploads said at least one modified copy to said at least one share-infringing user, and wherein said network interface alternates the quality of service during said uploading between a high value and a low value.

104. The system according to claim 67, wherein said network interface has at least one identity.

105. The system according to claim 104, wherein said at least one identity is selected from the list consisting of:

media access control address;

network protocol address;

user name; and

uniform resource locator.

67. System for decreasing the probability of identifying at least one item in a network, the system comprising:

a searching server; and

a production server;

said searching server further comprising;

a sniffing user coupled to said network; and

a characteristics database coupled to said sniffing user,

said production server further comprising;

a network interface coupled to said network; and

a processor coupled to said network interface,

wherein said sniffing user detects at least one infringing item in a directory coupled to said network, said sniffing user downloads at least a portion of said at least one infringing item from said network,

wherein said searching server identifies said at least one infringing item, by comparing at least one infringing item characteristic of said at least one infringing item, with at least one item characteristic of said at least one item, and

wherein said processor produces at least one modified copy of said at least one item, and said network interface makes available said at least one modified copy to said network.

106. Modified item, comprising:

at least one modified item characteristic; and

modified item content,

wherein said modified item is produced according to at least one item characteristic of an item, item content of said item and at least one supplementary material.

107. The modified item according to claim 106, wherein said at least one modified item characteristic is selected from the list consisting of:

title;

file size;

category;

date of production;

producer; and

performer.

108. The modified item according to claim 106, wherein the type of said item is selected from the list consisting of:

Intellectual Property (IP) item; and

Infringing item.

109. The modified item according to claim 106, wherein the type of content of said item is selected from the list consisting of:

audio;

video;

software;

computer game;

data; and

e-book.

110. The modified item according to claim 106, wherein said at least one modified item characteristic is identical with said at least one item characteristic.

111. The modified item according to claim 106, wherein said at least one modified item characteristic is similar to said at least one item characteristic.

112. The modified item according to claim 106, wherein said modified item content comprises at least two out-of-sequence segments of said item content separated by said at least one supplementary material.

113. The modified item according to claim 106, wherein said modified item content comprises at least two out-of-sequence segments of said item content followed by said at least one supplementary material.

114. The modified item according to claim 106, wherein a first portion of said modified item content comprises at least a portion of the beginning segment of said item content, and a second portion of said modified item content comprises said at least one supplementary material, continuously recurring.

115. The modified item according to claim 106, wherein the size of said modified item is substantially equal to the size of said item.

116. The modified item according to claim 106, wherein said modified item is produced according to predicted production parameters.

117. The modified item according to claim 106, wherein said at least one modified item characteristic of each of a plurality of modified items in a modified item set, is different than said at least one modified item characteristic of each of said modified items, in another modified item set.

118. The modified item according to claim 106, wherein a translator produces a translated name for said modified item and for said item, according to said at least one modified item characteristic and to said at least one item characteristic, respectively.

121. The system according to claim 119, wherein the type of said items is selected from the list consisting of:

Intellectual Property (IP) item; and

Infringing item.

122. The system according to claim 119, wherein the type of content of said items is selected from the list consisting of:

audio;

video;

software;

computer game;

data; and

e-book.

123. The system according to claim 119, wherein the type of the connection between said at least one network interface and said network is selected from the list consisting of:

wireless link; and

wired.

124. The system according to claim 119, wherein said at least one network interface reports a transmission bit rate to a bandwidth request received over said network, and uploads a selected one of said modified copies to a download-infringing user, at a bit rate different than said reported transmission bit rate.

125. The system according to claim 120, wherein the type of the connection between said item sharing server and said network is selected from the list consisting of:

wireless link; and

wired.

126. The system according to claim 119, wherein the type of said network is selected from the list consisting of:

publicly accessed network; and

network application.

127. The system according to claim 119, wherein said network perceives said at least one network interface to be a device selected from the list consisting of:

desktop;

laptop;

workstation;

mobile unit; and

network user application.

128. The system according to claim 119, wherein at least a selected characteristic of a selected one of said modified copies is identical with a respective characteristic of a respective one of said items.

129. The system according to claim 128, wherein said selected characteristic of said selected modified copy is selected from the list consisting of:

title;

file size;

category;

date of production;

producer; and

performer.

130. The system according to claim 119, wherein at least a selected characteristic of a selected one of said modified copies is similar to a respective characteristic of a respective one of said items.

131. The system according to claim 130, wherein said selected characteristic of said selected modified copy is selected from the list consisting of:

title;

file size;

category;

date of production;

producer; and

performer.

132. The system according to claim 119, wherein each of said modified copies, comprises at least two out-of-sequence segments of a respective one of said items separated by at least one supplementary material.

133. The system according to claim 119, wherein each of said modified copies, comprises at least two out-of-sequence segments of a respective one of said items followed by at least one supplementary material.

134. The system according to claim 119, wherein a first portion of each of said modified copies comprises at least a portion of the beginning segment of a respective one of said items, and wherein a second portion of each of said modified copies comprises a recurring supplementary material.

135. The system according to claim 119, wherein the size of each of said modified copies is substantially equal to the size of a respective one of said items.

136. The system according to claim 119, wherein each of said modified copies is produced according to predicted production parameters, when a respective one of said items is not available to said network.

137. The system according to claim 119, wherein at least one modified copy characteristic of each of said modified copies in a modified copy set, is different than said at least one modified copy characteristic of each of said modified copies, in another modified copy set.

138. The system according to claim 119, wherein a translator is coupled to said network, said translator produces a translated name for each of said modified copies, according to at least one modified copy characteristic of a respective one of said modified copies, for identifying said translated name by at least one user associated with another translator similar to said translator.

139. The system according to claim 138, wherein said translator is integrated with an item sharing server.

140. The system according to claim 119, wherein said at least one network interface is associated with a modified copy set, and wherein each of said modified copy sets includes a different selection of said modified copies.

141. The system according to claim 119, wherein said at least one network interface periodically changes at least one attribute respective thereof.

142. The system according to claim 141, wherein said at least one attribute is selected from the list consisting of:

network interface card identification;

logical user name;

network service provider; and

network protocol address.

143. The system according to claim 119, wherein said at least one network interface uploads said modified copy, and at least one of said modified copies to at least one download-infringing user, at a high quality of service, during the uploading of the beginning portion of at least one of said modified copies, and at a low quality of service during the uploading of the remainder of at least one of said modified copies.

144. The system according to claim 119, wherein said at least one network interface uploads at least one of said modified copies, to at least one download-infringing user, and wherein each of said at least one network interface alternates the quality of service during said uploading between a high value and a low value.

145. The system according to claim 119, wherein said at least one network interface has at least one identity.

146. The system according to claim 145, wherein said at least one identity is selected from the list consisting of:

media access control address;

network protocol address;

user name; and

uniform resource locator.

147. The system according to claim 120, wherein said item sharing server further comprises a plurality of different fixed delay units coupled to said network, and wherein each of said different fixed delay units is coupled to a selected one of said at least one network interface.

148. The system according to claim 147, wherein each of said different fixed delay units applies a time delay, to a response of said selected network interface, to a network request.

149. The system according to claim 120, wherein said item sharing server further comprises a random delay unit coupled to said network and to said at least one network interface.

150. The system according to claim 149, wherein said random delay unit delays a response of a selected one of said at least one network interface, to a network request, by a random delay period.

151. The system according to claim 119, wherein said at least one network interface is distributed within said network and said at least one storage unit is integrated in an item sharing server.

152. The system according to claim 151, wherein said item sharing server uploads at least a portion of at least selected ones of said modified copies to said at least one network interface.

153. The system according to claim 152, wherein said item sharing server performs said uploading, when the traffic in said network is low.

154. The system according to claim 151, wherein said item sharing server uploads the beginning portion of at least selected ones of said modified copies, and at least one supplementary material, to said at least one network interface.

155. The system according to claim 154, wherein said item sharing server performs said uploading, when the traffic in said network is low.

156. The system according to claim 154, wherein said at least one network interface produces a combined copy of at least selected ones of said modified copies, by combining said beginning portion with recurring ones of said at least one supplementary material, said recurring supplementary material following said beginning portion,

wherein the size of said combined copy is substantially equal to the size of a respective one of said items, and

157. The system according to claim 151, wherein said item sharing server uploads at least two segments of at least one of at least selected ones of said modified copies to said at least one network interface.

158. The system according to claim 157, wherein said at least one network interface produces a combined copy of at least selected ones of said modified copies, by combining recurring ones of said at least two segments out-of-sequence,

wherein the size of said combined copy is substantially equal to the size of a respective one of said items, and wherein said at least one download-infringing user downloads said combined copy.

159. The system according to claim 158, wherein said at least one network interface uploads said combined copy to said at least one download-infringing user.

160. The system according to claim 151, wherein at least selected ones of said modified copies is malfunctioning.

161. The system according to claim 119, wherein said at least one network interface determines an e-mail address of at least one download-infringing user, according to a user name of said at least one download-infringing user, when said at least one network interface uploads a selected one of said modified copies to said at least one download-infringing user, and said at least one network interface sends an e-mail message to said at least one download-infringing user.

162. The system according to claim 161, wherein the subject of said e-mail message is selected from the list consisting of:

notification that said at least one download-infringing user is infringing IP protected rights;

the means by which said at least one download-infringing user can obtain an IP protected copy of said respective item;

advertisement; and

commercial promotion.

163. The system according to claim 151, wherein at least additional ones of said at least one network interface are coupled to said at least one network interface via Internet Protocol multicasting.

164. The system according to claim 156, wherein said item sharing server deletes said combined copy from said at least one network interface, when said combined copy is not downloaded frequently.

165. The system according to claim 119, further comprising an addressing server, wherein said at least one network interface and said at least one storage unit are distributed within said network, and

wherein said addressing server includes a list of at least one modified copy characteristic of each of said modified copies, each entry in said list points to a selected one of said storage units.

166. The system according to claim 165, wherein said at least one network interface performs a peer brokering operation between at least one download-infringing user and said selected storage unit, thereby directing said at least one download-infringing user to download from said selected storage unit.

167. The system according to claim 165, wherein the type of the connection between said addressing server and said network is selected from the list consisting of:

wireless link; and

wired.

169. The method according to claim 168, further comprising a preliminary step of updating at least one selected network node respective of said modified copy.

170. The method according to claim 169, wherein said at least one selected network node is a directory.

171. The method according to claim 169, further comprising a preliminary step of producing said modified item, respective of an infringing copy of said item.

172. The method according to claim 171, further comprising a preliminary step of identifying said infringing copy in said network.

173. The method according to claim 168, wherein the type of said item is selected from the list consisting of:

Intellectual Property (IP) item; and

Infringing item.

174. The method according to claim 168, wherein the type of said network is selected from the list consisting of:

publicly accessed network; and

network application.

175. The method according to claim 168, further comprising a step of uploading said modified copy to a download-infringing user from a selected one of said network interfaces.

176. The method according to claim 168, further comprising a step of detecting a selected one of said modified copies in said network by a download-infringing user, according to a translated name of said selected modified copy.

177. The method according to claim 168, further comprising a step of changing at least one attribute of each of said network interfaces.

178. The method according to claim 177, wherein said at lease one attribute is selected from the list consisting of:

network interface card identification;

logical user name;

network service provider; and

network protocol address.

179. The method according to claim 168, further comprising a step of uploading selected ones of said modified copies to a download-infringing user by a selected one of said network interfaces, at a high quality of service, during the uploading of the beginning portion of said selected modified copy, and at a low quality of service during the uploading of the remainder of said selected modified copy.

180. The method according to claim 168, further comprising a step of uploading selected ones of said modified copies to a download-infringing user by a selected one of said network interfaces, wherein the quality of service in said step of uploading alternates between a high value and a low value.

182. The method according to claim 181, wherein said step of inspecting further comprises a procedure of retrieving at least one search characteristic from said search result.

183. The method according to claim 181, further comprising a step of downloading at least a portion of said identified infringing copy.

184. The method according to claim 183, further comprising a step of comparing the content of said infringing copy, with the content of said IP item, when said at least one infringing copy characteristic and said at least one IP item characteristic match.

185. The method according to claim 181, further comprising a step of recording an address of said identified infringing copy in said network.

186. The method according to claim 181, further comprising a preliminary step of initiating a search for said infringing copy, at least one infringing copy characteristic of said infringing copy being at least similar to at least one IP item characteristic of said IP item, and producing said search result.

187. The method according to claim 186, further comprising a preliminary step of defining said at least one IP item characteristic.

188. The method according to claim 181, wherein the type of said network is selected from the list consisting of:

publicly accessed network; and

network application.

189. The method according to claim 181, wherein the type of the content of said IP item is selected from the list consisting of:

audio;

video;

software;

computer game;

data; and

e-book.

190. The method according to claim 186, wherein said step of initiating is performed according to a translated name of said infringing copy.

119. System for sharing items in a network, the system comprising:

at least one storage unit for storing modified copies of a plurality of items; and

at least one network interface coupled to at least a selected one of said at least one storage unit and to said network, each of said at least one network interface being associated with at least selected ones of said modified copies,

wherein said at least one network interface shares said selected modified copies associated therewith, over said network.

168. Method for reducing the probability for identifying an item in a network, the method comprising the steps of:

associating a plurality of network interfaces with a modified copy of said item; and

enabling availability of said modified copy through said network interfaces.

181. Method for detecting an infringing copy of an Intellectual Property (IP) item in a network, the method comprising the steps of:

inspecting a search result for identifying said infringing copy; and

comparing at least one infringing copy characteristic of said infringing copy, with at least one IP item characteristic of said IP item, when said infringing copy is identified.