BitTorrent goes closed source

DEVELOPERS ARE being told that they cannot have access to the code of the latest version of BitTorrent.

Unlike all other versions of the P2P software BitTorrent 6 will not be released under an Open Sauce licence, although the software will still be free.

Ashwin Navin, President of BitTorrent told Slyck.com that the problem with using an Open Sauce licence was that people were taking the product, repackaging it, charging for it or loading it with spyware.

Navin said that the company often received phone calls from people who complain they have paid for the BitTorrent client.

He said that by keeping the source closed, it creates a "certain amount of distinction" between the official client and maliciously repackaged software. BitTorrent 6 is based on uTorrent which has always been closed source and is the single most popular BitTorrent client.

Concerns that developers will not be able to keep up with the latest protocol developments were also not a problem according to Navin.

He said that BitTorrent developers can still obtain the specifications on the latest protocol extensions by obtaining a SDK licence. µ