LimeWire

Why It Mattered

Its significance lay in bringing decentralised file searching to a vast mainstream audience while making the risks of peer-supplied content unusually visible. Users had to judge filenames, formats, sizes and source counts without any guarantee that a result was authentic or safe. LimeWire consequently became an enduring symbol of both the appeal and hazards of peer-to-peer sharing, as well as a major test case in the legal struggle over software associated with copyright infringement.

Origins and Development

• Lime Wire LLC was founded in June 2000 and released the relevant LimeWire client in August 2000.
• Mark Gorton founded and directed the company, while Chris Rohrs was hired to write the first software version.
• Early development also involved Greg Bildson, Adam Fisk, Sumeet Thadani, Rob Soule, Anurag Singla and Tarun Kapoor.

Gnutella Search and Transfer

• Search queries travelled through connected Gnutella peers rather than a LimeWire-owned media catalogue.
• Later versions used leaf clients and higher-capacity ultrapeers to route queries and return matching results.
• Selected data transferred directly from one or more sharing computers.

False Results, Malware and Closure

• Peer-supplied descriptors were unauthenticated, and documented results included mislabelled, corrupt, duplicated and deliberately spoofed files.
• A 45-day 2006 study found malware in 68 percent of downloadable responses within selected executable, archive and Microsoft Office categories, not across all LimeWire files or MP3 recordings.
• The permanent injunction entered on 26 October 2010 required Lime Wire to halt official distribution and support and disable functions under its control.

Associated With

Lime Wire LLC - historical operator; Mark Gorton - founder; Greg Bildson - founding CTO/COO; Chris Rohrs - original developer

Defining Feature

Java-based searches and direct peer transfers across the decentralised Gnutella network

Status

Discontinued - official distribution and support ended under injunction on 26 October 2010

Primary Records

• Arista Records LLC et al. v. Lime Group LLC et al. — Opinion and Order
• Defendants' Rule 56 Statement
• LimeWire: Beginnings — Greg Bildson
• Permanent Injunction, 26 October 2010

Image Sources

• Image 1
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Rights Notice

Images are included for historical and archival reference.

Rights holders may contact Forgotten Archive through the publishing account to request a credit correction or removal.

Gallery and image credits