BitTorrent (Photo : Facebook)
Torrent downloads flourish because they are free but popular torrent download client uTorrent is reportedly attempting to alter the landscape a bit by making users pay to fully access its services, which may include unauthorized copying of copyrighted contents.
BitTorrent Inc., which runs free app uTorrent, is thinking of monetizing its online services that according to Torrent Freak counts monthly visitors of around 150 million worldwide. At the moment, the company relies on advertising and bundled software to finance its operations but the income stream remains insufficient.
"We've never been satisfied with this revenue model," the company told Torrent Freak.
BitTorrent already charges roughly $30 per year for its paid subscription known as BitTorrent Sync but the company insisted that it needs to generate more revenues to improve overall user experience and better pay its employees.
"Specifically, we want to find a way to improve uTorrent for our customers while financially supporting the amazing team that works every day to make uTorrent great," BitTorrent said.
What and how exactly the payment scheme would be is still unclear but the report indicates that BitTorrent is thinking of imposing charges that can be reconfigured depending on a user's budget. But the bottom line is uTorrent users will be made to pay so they can continue to download files and materials for free.
Now the question begs: Will users be willing to pay for unlimited access to free contents and be labelled as pirates? Or best to turn the attention on legitimate sources of contents - music, movies and e-books - since they will be paying anyway and reap the benefits of staying away from possible legal problems.
