File-sharing services have an interesting problem balancing contributors and users. Matei Ripeanu, Miranda Mowbray, Nazareno Andrade, and Aliandro Lima have done some interesting analysis of this in the case of BitTorrent. The abstract:
This paper is concerned with gifting: giving not motivated by a direct, immediate, or obvious benefit. We analyze a popular technology used for gifting: the BitTorrent file–sharing system. We determine features associated with high levels of gifting and suggest changes to the protocol and to the design of associated BitTorrent Web sites to promote it. We then extend our conclusions and suggestions to gifting technologies in general. ...
Link: First Monday. --Dennis
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