Sharman Networks shuts down pirated Kazaa

Sharman Networks -- owner of popular peer-to-peer software Kazaa -- has succeeded in eliminating a hacked version of its software.

Kazaa Lite K++ was touted as a way to protect p2p users from "organisations such as the RIAA" invading their privacy, but also blocked features of the Kazaa software deemed as adware and spyware.

Sharman Networks has reportedly contacted the Internet service provider of every Web site which hosted Kazaa Lite K++ and threatened them with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act unless access to the modified software was removed. This follows a move earlier in the year when Sharman Networks used the same legislation to force Google to remove links to the modified version or face legal action.

Sharman Networks had its eye on Kazaa Lite as long ago as April last year.

Kazaa became the most downloaded peer-to-peer software earlier this year, and has been engaged in running legal battles with the Recording Industry Association of America.

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Talkback 12 comments

    Good luck Sharman, I run Kazaa ...Anonymous -- 09/12/03

    Good luck Sharman, I run Kazaa lite myself, after using their program and getting tired of constant ads popping up on my computer. Whats to stop people from using the official Kazaa to get the latest versions of kazaalite? We are still all on line, looking at my program at the moment there are 3,055,678 people using either Kazaa or Kazaalite, my guess a high percentage are using Kazaalite. My theory is, when they change their own program to cut us from their system do they they think we will revert to theirs?? No way, hell there are at least 6 other programs we can use. And when they lose all the Kazaalite users, is their system going to make up for the loss of the files we are sharing with their users? NO!
    I will keep using Kazaalite until it fades out, then move on to other NO Spyware programs!!

    What he said....(points up) If ...MrDamage -- 09/12/03

    What he said....(points up)

    If Sharman cannot provide what the consumer wants, then they have noone to blame but themselves when the consumer modifies the product to do what the consumer wants.

    Sharman Networks are going to ...Shannon Masters -- 09/12/03

    Sharman Networks are going to find them selves having ALOT of members leave their community from shutting down Kazaa Lite.

    The way I see it, most of the users that connect to the kazaa network, are using third party programs to do so, such as Kazaa Lite.

    If Sharman Networks didn't force their users to run their spyware, then I'd agree to the shutting down of Kazaa Lite. But since they clearly don't, I think it's time that we start looking for a new network too connect to.

    Hypocrisy to the highest degre ...N00B -- 10/12/03

    Hypocrisy to the highest degree. Hahahahahahaha...

    Stealing music is great for Sharman Networks and very noble.

    Stealing and modifying Sharman' loaded with spyware crap is not so great.

    What goes around...

    BTW. My Kazza Lite still works fine…

    ;-P

    Where can I get K++ from? I j ...Paul -- 10/12/03

    Where can I get K++ from? I just rebuilt my PC and I thought I had it on CD but I don't...

    Anyone wanna gimme a URL?

    anyone care to give me the EXE ...Bill Gates -- 11/12/03

    anyone care to give me the EXE file for Kazaa Lite K++?

    I'm more than willing to host it on one of my sites, and tie up Sharman with even more legal battles.

    I've had enough troubles with the DMCA that I know the thing backward, and I'm pretty sure I could defeat them...

    filemirrors.com and search for ...Klite User -- 12/12/03

    filemirrors.com and search for klite would help you Paul and Bill :)

    That did the trick =) Many tha ...Paul -- 15/12/03

    That did the trick =)
    Many thanx, KLite user

    i used to use Kazaa, but i did ...Janus McRooney -- 24/12/03

    i used to use Kazaa, but i didnt know any better, hey then Kazaa Lite K++ came along.
    Wow what a program i was really impressed, no ads, no spyware and it didnt hog the resources on your system.
    Now that was the best thing since sliced bread.
    Hey just for the record i would never go back to Kazaa, it is quite awfull. I would rather stick my head in a bucket of sand.
    If Kazaa Lite K++ does stop working i will probably switch to Bit Torrent/ Emule or Shareaza. But keep away from Kazaa, if you never have used it, i highly recommend that you dont, as i have had first hand experience with it and oh boy does it suck, constant ads, forever and ever shutting them down, especially if you got broadband, and certain spyware within kazaa actually activates randomly even if the kazaa is not running and download and upload your personall information from your pc to who knows where??? And i ain't just saying this, all this is from first hand experience with kazaa. Seems to me as if sharman networks have sort of shot themshelves in the foot by attempting to shut Kazaa Lite K++ down. Is the end for sharman network's? Only time will tell.

    there is another programme tha ...neil jeffs -- 25/12/03

    there is another programme that does exactly the same job and is also avaliable for kazaa 2.6 its called diet k and is avaliable from www.dietk.com
    i have used it and its just as good if not better

    You can download K++ from fari ...Anonymous -- 26/12/03

    You can download K++ from farious sites. Just search for "K++" on Google instead of "KaZaA Lite"

    This reporter needs to be sack ...Anonymous -- 19/06/04

    This reporter needs to be sacked sharmans did not close down kazaa lite

    you can find in in amy google searxh for kazza

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