Define "file". If you use a RAID system you're already storing more than just a string of bits. What about if this "file" is on local network storage - are you allowed to copy chunks of it to your local hard drive while it's playing? And then into memory - that's another copy.. ker-ching!

A file is an abstract concept - it makes no practical difference - and should make no legal difference - whether it's in the cloud, on your local computer or somewhere in between, or all of those places at once. All that matters is whether or not you can access the data.

The company that failed to upgrade most spectacularly, and basically caused all this mess, was Microsoft itself. IE6 wasn't a bad browser back in 2000. If they'd released an upgraded version every year since, it, its incompatibility and its bugs would be long-forgotten.

That's ironic indeed, because everyone loves puppies...

Thanks for the recommendation. I am currently using Avant Window Navigator, which is almost great, but has a few irritating glitches. I'm going to give Docky a go.

It helps that the UK chlid porn (to capitalize or not?) laws are absurdly draconian, to the point where a guy who tries to report someone else's possession of it can be done for having seen it himself.

This may seem dumb behaviour, but it's actually indicative of bad usability. Many people don't understand why there are two text inputs at the top of their browser. Presumably this is why Chrome merged them.

So somebody could, in theory, discover Ice Nine?

What about people who just leech continuously?

Thanks you! I now have my band name

Indeed. Which is why Apple now have the ridiculous clause in their TOS saying you can only develop your app in certain languages. Can't remember the exact wording but I think it's something like "... anything but Actionscript"

Well, exactly. You might as well prosecute Microsoft for the Network Drive feature in Windows.

I don't agree with this, but some people want to hold pirates responsible for the "economic repercussions" of filesharing.

I think we can all agree that whistleblowers are cowardly people who should be silenced at any cost and do not deserve to have jobs.

#4 is inaccurate - Opera mini has been approved for iPhone.

Yes, I meant private individuals, of course, and I meant in connection with p2p.

That article (from 2004) is far from conclusive. All we know is that they tried to find out the identity of 28 filesharers. This was well publicized at the time. We don't know if the ISP's actually managed to identify the accounts in question, if they handed over the people's details, and what happened if they did. I would be genuinely interested if you could find proof that anyone was actually ever charged. I have tried to find out and hit a brick wall. It is my assumption that nothing happened, or they would be shouting from the rooftops about it.