DALnet Ready to Cut Off File Sharing

DALnet, once one of the largest Internet Relay Chat (define) networks on the Internet, is moving to say 'no' to file sharing.

The IRC network, which has been ravaged by a sustained distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, said it will change its Acceptable Use Policy on March 1. The change will prohibit "using a channel for the primary purpose of facilitating the transfer of files."

"DALnet is by its very nature a Chat Network," DALnet said in a statement Tuesday. "Its purpose is for people around the world to join together in channels and converse about subjects of their choosing. New technologies have sprung forth since the birth of DALnet back in 1994. Programs such as KaZaA and Napster have generated a desire for Internet users to freely transfer files. They have also generated a large amount of controversy regarding the legality of doing so. DALnet is not, nor does it wish to be thought of as file sharing network."

However, the network will not axe file sharing completely. "This is not about the occasional transfer of a file between people who otherwise are using DALnet to chat," the network said. "This is about setting up channels as a means to facilitate the transfer of files."

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