The <a href="http://retroshare.sourceforge.net/">RetroShare</a> network allows people to create a private and encrypted file-sharing network. Users add friends by exchanging PGP certificates with people they trust. All the communication is encrypted using OpenSSL and files that are downloaded from strangers always go through a trusted friend.

In other words, it’s a true Darknet and virtually impossible to monitor by outsiders.

RetroShare founder DrBob told us that while the software has been around since 2006, all of a sudden there’s been a surge in downloads. “The interest in RetroShare has massively shot up over the last two months,” he said.

It's serverless, so it's like Limewire and other decentralised networks. But the PGP swapping is going to be a big hurdle; this isn't going to get big in a hurry.

Two-year ban and £70,000 fine for Mr Crossley. Wonder what will happen to the thousands of pounds allegedly duped out of people accused of illicit filesharing.

Three strikes filesharing rule comes into play in New Zealand: "The three-strikes regime is not expected to be widely used by rights holders, however, because of the high $25 fee they must pay to internet providers to forward those warnings to internet users and a $200 fee for bringing cases in front of the tribunal."

This seems a scaled up version of the speculative invoicing scheme mastered by ACS:Law – although these alleged filesharers apparently settle for $2,500 each on average.

"The operators of LimeWire agreed to pay record companies $105 million, ending a federal trial over copyright infringement damages owed by the once popular but now defunct file-sharing service."

"An IP address on its own cannot be used to identify who has carried out activity on computer networks, a US judge has ruled. Judge Harold Baker, a federal judge in Illinois, denied a copyright holder the right to force internet service providers (ISPs) to hand over the address details of their subscribers."