There are studies out there that say BitTorrent accounts for over 35% of all Internet traffic. I would be willing to bet that the percentage of Internet users who even know about BitTorrent is a lot less.

BitTorrent works by users clicking on a ".torrent" link on a webpage or otherwise. Once they click on it, they are not only connected to the server hosting the file, but every other user that is downloading the file. Bits and pieces of the file are downloaded onto your computer from all the other people that are downloading the file, and it turn you reciprocate by providing other users the pieces that you have downloaded. This system is not only ingenious, but fast.

You are probably already familiar with groups like the RIAA and the MPAA, who have sued thousands of people and companies in order to stop the tidal wave of illegal downloads of their copyrighted material. Naturally, they did the same to servers hosting .torrent links to movies and CDs, so it's a little harder nowadays to find such links.

These groups do not understand the Internet and they do not understand their customer base. Given the choice, users would prefer paying the artists directly rather than seeing 90% of the money they spend on a DVD or a CD go to the record or movie companies. Given the choice, users would rather be able to buy a song or a movie and play it in their car, on their computer, and on their home stereo without having to buy three different versions.

Fortunately for us, technology will soon overwhelm these companies and they will be forced to change their practices. Last week, the beta program eXeem was released. This program combines BitTorrent with the peer-to-peer sharing of programs like LimeWire. What this means is that there will no longer be one central server to sue for hosting .torrent links, because everyone will be able to share links with each other. It will be just like the file-sharing programs you are used to, except lightning fast. I downloaded the program last week and in two days I had already downloaded 4 high-quality Hollywood movies and five music albums, including one that hasn't even been released yet.

I do not recommend downloading eXeem quite yet, because it is like Kazaa and has a ton of spyware, but if you can't wait you can download eXeem Lite which has the spyware removed.

Whether eXeem or some other eXeem-like program becomes the standard is not relevant. What is relevant is that the tide has turned - consumers now have the power and anybody who owns intellectual property had better recognize.