Why GT Systems likes IPFS and is looking very seriously at using it. These comments should be read in conjunction with our initial community post here GT Systems: building Blust+SPA, the world’s first legal, approved, peer to peer movie sharing network; exploring IPFS, libp2p and Filecoin as a tool set
We developed our Secure Peer Assist (SPA) technology to overcome the issues with distributing video (movie) and other large files via the Internet. It is now approved by one of the biggest studios in Hollywood with more to come. We identified, very early on, the need for a file system. We were aware of some of the work around content addressing and new models for the Internet (although not specifically IPFS) but were very much aware of our limitations as a startup and felt these were outside our remit. So, we specified our own version and included its development in our budgets. It seems that IPFS has come along at the perfect time to meet that requirement. While it seems to be early days in its development, that is a good thing in that it enables us to contribute and influence its direction. We’re optimistic that recent developments in Filecoin and crypto-currencies in general will also help accelerate that significantly.
Why we like IPFS
- It fits our architecture, philosophy and values perfectly (assuming positive answers to our high level questions in the IPFS discussion forum here GT Systems IPFS and Filecoin questions)
- It supports hash’s and therefore content addressing and DHT
- It scales – BIG – hopefully to Exabytes and beyond
- It becomes more efficient as it scales
- It has no single point of failure and shards can continue to function
- It ISN’T BitTorrent, which makes it more acceptable to the studios (but, again, see our questions around security)
- It encrypts files at rest. Currently, we use PlayReady 3 to do that because it is acceptable to the studios. Hopefully, as we continue to work with the studios and introduce IPFS, we may be able to use the native IPFS encryption. That will depend on how secure it is and will require an extension of the journey we have been on for 10 years with the studios. But, right now, our architecture (including PR3) is approved. If we can make it work with IPFS, we are good to go with one of the best catalogues in the world, with more to come.
- Combined with Filecoin and our technology, IPFS provides the perfect mechanism for our customers to share movies. It fits our business plan and business model perfectly. Using our relationships, it overcomes ALL the issues (tech and business) of distributing movies via the Internet. This is based on a VERY deep understanding of the real tech and business issues and motivators, gained from working with all the Hollywood studios and Indies on digital distribution for 10 years.
- Given certain assumptions, we think we may be able to significantly reduce the cost of movies to consumers, while keeping rights owners (studios and indies) happy.
- It will allow us to come to market MUCH quicker and requires MUCH less funding.
- Between us, we can change the way movies and TV are distributed and sold for the foreseeable future and help fix the Internet. We like that very much.
Rhett Sampson
GT Systems
8 February 2018