BaySpider - Tracking Digital Music

US-based security firm BayTSP is telling reporters they have finally created software that can track digital music over the Internet. The software works by scanning the net 24 hours a day every day of the year to identify Web sites, newsgroups, and P2P networks who are illegally holding and trading copyrighted materials. And the list isn't limited to MP3s either, as the software can trace WAVs and other such formats.

If illegal materials are found, a "snapshot" of the URL is taken and the ISP as well as the site are informed.

It works by identifying a songs 'DNA' and matching it against the original. BayTSP will not comment on the technology it uses, but it could be the same MD5 checksum technique used by EMusic. The problem, according to Internet News, is that by changing a single byte in the file a new checksum is created, thus making the 'DNA' different.

For more information read the article over at Internet News.