It seems that researchers found a way to control file-sharing networks by considering bandwidth as a currency. This is how Tribler was created, a peer-to-peer system that could be beneficial. Through it sharers earn faster upload and download speed and leechers are penalized. File sharing networks are good for individuals that want to download large files but they usually end up with individuals taking more from the system than they are giving back. If too many users are downloading instead of sharing there is a stand still and the network itself becomes sluggish. Tribler is being tested in TV streaming by peer-to-peer technology and Dr. Johan Pouwelse, assistant professor at Delft University of Technology (co-creator of Tribler) said:

“In our model your TV would use “TV watching minutes”, our form of P2P currency, to download content. The TV would connect directly to the internet and provide video on demand in HDTV quality. After you watch a program on TV, the system would automatically share this program during the night with other people, until your ‘TV watching minutes’ credit is healthy again. If we get this right, it would mean quite a change in the TV business. In peer-to-peer, I can build up credit by offering upload capacity and then use the credit for download in the future. There is still a balance, but the balance is on the order of days rather than seconds and this time-shifting can be welfare enhancing.”

The system could be beneficial for honest viewers and downloaders but will definitely not be welcomed by leechers. Similar systems were implemented in torrent download sites that require memberships. The inclusion in more peer-to-peer systems can prove as an added plus to using them.