Leech (computing)

The term leech ( from the English leech, leech, cleaner, transfer: parasites ) is very often in relation to certain file-sharing users (FTP server, file sharing ) used on the Internet. Leechers in this context are users who want to download data only and are not willing to own upload as consideration or other users to provide their own files available for download ( seeding - from English seed, to seed: seed, sow ).

The Leechen represents a danger to the usability of file sharing represents only a few users are willing to share their data and their upload capacity for other users available, so can not work a meaningful exchange market according to the current design.

Terms of Use

Many netizens offer for fear of legal consequences other Internet users no files to download. However, downloading a file is in Germany since the so-called second basket of the Copyright Act 2007 inadmissible when it is obvious that it is illegal, made ​​publicly available template ( § 53 para 1 sentence 1 of the Copyright Act ). In Austria, the legal situation is unclear.

The current German case law assumes that only the owner of the distribution rights may publish a work with impunity. About criminal penalties, there are also civil ways persons who make files in file sharing networks available to sue for damages.

Importance

In the BitTorrent network

A completely different meaning, however, can the term leech within the BitTorrent network have. This Seeder are the people who have already finished loading the file and leechers the people who download just the file - and usually also upload the same time. However, even here the word leech in its actual meaning used, so for users who only download and (almost) nothing to upload. Therefore, it is usually asked to provide the upload as high as possible to get the torrent alive.

In computer games

In computer games leecher persons who benefit from the skills of their team or their group means ( to win or to get more resources either ) and even contribute much less than their allies to do so. Especially in first person shooters or role playing leeching occurs. In special role plays, however, the leech a part of the game which also helps the group members to benefit. (see also computer gaming jargon )

In forums

In forums, just in Warez forums, those are called leechers who only read or download information without taking part in community life (see lurker ).