Abstract. Hahn and Wallsten [1] wrote that network neutrality "usually means that broadband service providers charge consumers only once for Internet access, do not favor one content provider over another, and do not charge content providers for sending information over broadband lines to end users." We study the implications of non-neutral behaviors under a simple model of linear demand-response to usage-based prices. We take into account advertising revenues for the content provider and consider both cooperative and non-cooperative scenarios. We show that by adding the option for one provider to determine the amount of side payment from the other provider, not only do the content provider and the internaut suffer, but also the Access Provider's performance degrades.

Abstract:Hahn and Wallsten [3] wrote that net neutrality usually means that broadband service providers charge consumers only once for Internet access, do not favor one content provider over another, and do not charge content providers for sending information over broadband lines to end users." In this paper we study the implications of being non-neutral, particularly by charging the content providers. Using game theoretic tools, we show that by adding the option for the service providers to charge the content providers, not only may the content providers and the internauts suer, but also the access provider's performance degrades.

No abstract

Recent publications have reached conicting conclusions on wheather allowing users to have unlimitted free access for downloading music and lms is benetial or not for the content provider industrty. Not only do models dier in their conclusions, but there has also not been an agreement on the validity of data on the impact of free access to music and lms using P2P on the prots of CPIs and on the demand for CDs and DVDs. We provide in this paper a model that allows to study this question using elementary mathematical tools. In particular, it includes the eect of sampling on the the willingness to buy. Preliminary numerical experiments show that benets are maximized by avoiding any control measures against unauthorized sampling over P2P networks.

Internet growth has allowed unprecedented widespread access to cultural creation including music and lms, to knowledge, and to a wide range of consumer information. At the same time, it has become a huge source of business opportunities. Along with great benets that this access to the Internet provides, the open and free access to the Internet has encountered large opposition based on political, economical and ethical reasons. An ongoing battle over the control on Internet access has been escalating on all these fronts. In this paper we describe rst some of the ideological roots of free access to the Internet along with its main opponents. We then focus on the problem of Internet piracy and analyze the eciency of eorts to reduce the availability of copyrighted creations that are available for non-authorized free download.