Morpheus (computer program)

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Morpheus

Developer:	StreamCast Networks
Latest release:	5.3 / October 25, 2006
OS:	Windows
Use:	Peer-to-peer
License:	Closed source
Website:	Offical Site

Morpheus is the name of a file sharing client for Microsoft Windows, operated by the company StreamCast, that originally used the OpenNAP and P2P platform.

1 History
2 NEO Network
3 Presence of Adware/Spyware
4 External links

[edit] History

In 2001, Morpheus changed protocols, from OpenNAP to FastTrack.

On February 26, 2002, all Morpheus clients suddenly stopped working when the FastTrack protocol was updated and Morpheus users no longer were allowed to log into the network. This was apparently because of a licensing dispute between StreamCast and the owners of FastTrack.

On March 2, 2003 a new, less-robust Morpheus client using the Gnutella network and the networking core from the Gnucleus servent was released. When challenged on their decision not to abide by the terms of the GPL, under which Gnucleus had been released, Morpheus switched to a very outdated Jtella core, and after the disputes had been worked out, Morpheus switched back to the Gnucleus core. Since then, the network core has been updated to include Gnutella2, and StreamCast has created their own network, 'NEOnet,' and has included support for MLDonkey plugins, allowing access to EDonkey Network, Overnet Network, and, once again, FastTrack.

In April 2003, Grokster and StreamCast (providers of the Morpheus P2P software) obtained a ruling by a Los Angeles federal court judge, Stephen Wilson, in its favor against the RIAA and the motion picture industry which stated that their file swapping software was not illegal.

On August 20, 2003, the decision was appealed.

On August 17, 2004, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a partial ruling supporting Grokster and StreamCast. This appeal presents the question of whether distributors of peer-to-peer file-sharing computer networking software may be held contributorily or vicariously liable for copyright infringements by users. Under the circumstances presented by this case, we conclude that the defendants are not liable for contributory and vicarious copyright infringement and affirm the district court's partial grant of summary judgment.

In December 2004, the Supreme Court of the United States agreed to hear the case. Oral arguments began on 29 March 2005.

On June 4, 2005, Streamcast Networks released a completely redesigned Morpheus 5.0. Connecting to NEO Network, Gnutella & Gnutella2, and its lack of bundled software, Morpheus started to regain userbase.

On June 27, 2005, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Morpheus and Grokster may be held accountable when their users pirate music. (See also MGM Studios, Inc. v. Grokster, Ltd.)

[edit] NEO Network

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Neo Network™ is a newly formed decentralized Peer-to-Peer network created by Morpheus™ users and other users of file sharing and searching software utilizing the NEOnet™ technology platform. Unlike other P2P networks, files found on Neo Network download faster because files are more easily and quickly found; therefore more resources contribute to downloading that file. Rare and popular files that exist on Neo Network can be found with accuracy like never before -- if a file exists on just one other computer, NEOnet technology enables a user to locate that file instantly.

NEOnet is an entirely new generation of P2P technology using advanced patent-pending distributed hash table (DHT) technology. Development on the core NEOnet technology began in the year 2001 by a group of Harvard University computer science alumni. They created a company around their technology because they could envision potentially huge opportunities for distributed computing applications based upon their DHT breakthrough. Now, under license, Morpheus has begun to integrate NEOnet into new versions of its software to help bring this technological innovation to the masses.

NEOnet search technology provides the first globally scalable P2P solution for a completely decentralized, server-less network of millions of nodes and computing devices that search efficiently, regardless of the network size. File sharing and searching is only the first of many applications that will be powered by NEOnet. In the near future, other distributed communications tools such as Instant Messaging and VoIP, will be enabled by this new generation technology. NEOnet technology will be the perfect solution for content providers desiring central server-like reliability in a totally decentralized environment to efficiently distribute their digital creation to millions of individuals worldwide. Even DRM protected files can be distributed using the NEOnet technology.

[edit] Presence of Adware/Spyware

The current version of Morpheus, version 5.3 does not install adware or spyware to your computer, but it does install some Desktop shortcuts to adware websites. When Morpheus is open and running, the interface is cluttered with online ads, because adware is still present in the current versions. There is also an optional peer-to-peer Morpheus Toolbar during installation.

To remove the Desktop shortcuts just right click and delete them. To block the online ads in the interface on Windows XP, add the line '127.0.0.1 ads.morpheus.com' to your hosts file without the quotation marks. Then open Internet Explorer, go to Tools, Internet Options, Security tab, Restricted Sites, select "Default Level", then click on "Sites" and add 'start.morpheus.com' (without the quotes) to the Restricted Sites.