bitlegging

If people can take your content without compensation, where do the revenues come from? "Bitlegging" can't be ignored: there's no doubt that it can be a significant drag on profits. Luckily, there are some compensating factors.

1999, Carl Shapiro, Hal R[onald] Varian, Information Rules: A Strategic Guide to the Network Economy, Boston, M.A.: Harvard Business School Press, →ISBN, page 92

Of course, downloading a ripped-off version of, say, the All Saints' Never Ever is the digital equivalent of bootlegging (bitlegging?). But MP3.com advises a legal alternative: buy the CD then use a "ripper" to create an MP3 file for your own use.

1999 March 11, John Graham-Cumming, “Make your PC really sing”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 08 May 2014

Every passing year generates a wealth of new online terms: Companies can go 'viral' to reach thousands of customers with their advert or marketing message, or can try 'slivercasting' to target a small audience. There's also been an increase in blegging, bitlegging and splogging (a blend of spam and blog).

2006 November 26, Manisha Singh, “Lexicon techs all”, in The Economic Times, Mumbai: Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 28 Apr 2024

'Bitlegging' describes the unlicensed downloading of copyright material, while 'ransomware' denotes programs that illegally encrypt personal files to prevent access.

[2007 May 16, Lawrence Wallis, “An increasing fetish for offlish”, in PrintWeek, archived from the original on 28 Apr 2024