{{Short description|File-sharing software}} {{Lowercase title}} {{Infobox website | logo = I2hub logo.jpg | founder = Wayne Chang | url = [http://www.i2hub.com/ i2hub.com] | launch_date = March 2004 | company_type = Private | area_served = Worldwide | location = Massachusetts | industry = Internet, Computer software | products = i2hub.com, Jungalu.com, ConnectU.com, StallScribbles.com, Digital Flyers, ConnectHi (theyearbook.org), ConnectGroups, The Winklevoss Chang Group Representative Program, The Rep Center, Social Butterfly | current_status = Inactive }} '''i2hub''' was a peer-to-peer file sharing service and program designed and intended primarily for use by university and college students.
==History== The program was created by Wayne Chang, a student at University of Massachusetts, Amherst.<ref name="dailyfree1">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyfreepress.com/2.5500/wayne-s-world-1.926414|title=Wayne's World|author=Anita Davis|date=2005-10-21|publisher=The Daily Free Press|access-date=2010-07-25|archive-date=2010-10-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101003035258/http://www.dailyfreepress.com/2.5500/wayne-s-world-1.926414|url-status=dead}}</ref>
i2hub used Internet2, which was a special network that connected universities around the world. It allowed faster data transfer rates than typical Internet connections. Because of this, download speeds through i2hub were usually much faster than through other peer-to-peer networks.{{citation needed|date=October 2014}}
The service was launched in March 2004 and ultimately expanded to over 400 universities and colleges both in the United States and abroad.<ref name="cnet1">{{cite news|publisher=CNET News|url=http://news.cnet.com/File-swapping-gets-supercharged-on-student-network/2100-1027_3-5202107.html|date=2004-04-29| title=File-swapping gets supercharged on student network|author=John Borland}}</ref><ref name="furdlog1">{{cite news|publisher=MIT FurdLog|url=http://msl1.mit.edu/furdlog/?p=2439|date=2004-08-19|title=The Rise of i2hub|author=Frank Field|access-date=2010-07-24|archive-date=2010-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727192613/http://msl1.mit.edu/furdlog/?p=2439|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="wsj2">{{cite news|publisher=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/0,,SB108915422509256693,00?mod=mm_hs_entertainment|date=2004-07-07| title=New on Campus: Faster Network For File-Sharers|author=Hope Glassberg}}</ref><ref name="chron1">{{cite news|publisher=The Chronicle|url=http://chronicle.com/article/Students-Use-Internet2-s/8726|date=2004-05-14| title=Students Use Internet2's High-Speed Research Network to Swap Songs and Movies|author=Brock Read}}</ref>
==Competition from Facebook== In August 2004, Mark Zuckerberg, Andrew McCollum, Adam D'Angelo, and Sean Parker of Facebook launched a competing peer-to-peer file sharing service called Wirehog.<ref name=mdodoo1>{{cite news|publisher=Martey Dodoo|url=http://www.marteydodoo.com/2004/08/16/wirehog/|date=2004-08-16| title=Wirehog?|author=Martey Dodoo}}</ref><ref name=hcrimson1>{{cite news|publisher=Harvard Crimson|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2004/8/13/zuckerberg-programs-new-website-having-seemingly/|date=2004-08-13| title=Zuckerberg Programs New Website|author=Alan J. Tabak}}</ref> Traction was low compared to i2hub, and Facebook ultimately shut it down.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/05/26/wirehog/|title=Wirehog, Zuckerberg's Side Project That Almost Killed Facebook – TechCrunch|website=techcrunch.com|date=26 May 2010 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-04-04}}</ref>
==The Winklevoss Chang Group== As its user-base expanded, it attracted the attention of ConnectU. A partnership allegedly formed between i2hub and ConnectU. The partnership, called The Winklevoss Chang Group, jointly advertised their properties through bus advertisements as well as press releases. i2hub integrated its popular software with ConnectU's website, as part of the partnership. The team also jointly launched several projects and initiatives, including:<ref name=gesmer1>{{cite news|publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/25379721/Chang-v-Winklevoss-Complaint|date=2010-01-18| title=Chang v. Winklevoss Complaint|author=Lee Gesmer}}</ref><ref name=cnet3>{{cite news|publisher=CNET News|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10424028-36.html|date=2010-01-04|title=Fresh legal woes for ConnectU founders|author=Caroline McCarthy|access-date=2010-07-23|archive-date=2014-03-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313031247/http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10424028-36.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Jungalu.com, an internet-based book exchange * StallScribbles.com, an online "anonymous confessions" board * Digital Flyers, a portal for purchasing advertisements to be placed on the various WCG websites and on i2hub * ConnectHi (also known as ConnectHigh and theyearbook.org), an effort to penetrate the high school social networking market * ConnectGroups, an initiative to provide clubs and organizations with a means for their members to communicate online with each other about their organizations * The Winklevoss Chang Representative Program, a sales representative program which WCG used to establish a presence on college campuses and to promote ConnectU and the other WCG properties * The Rep Center, an internet-based portal, accessible through ConnectU.com, providing a centralized location for the representatives of The Winklevoss Chang Representative Program to communicate and earn points (redeemable for prizes) by recruiting and signing up new users for all of WCG's properties * Social Butterfly, a feature added to ConnectU to enable users to consolidate their accounts at various social networking sites, such as Facebook, and make that information accessible through ConnectU * [https://patents.google.com/patent/US20060212395A1 US Patent Application 20060212395], related to a method of purchasing of copyrighted computer files through affinity programs, such as using points from a credit card to purchase copyrighted movies.
==Legal pressure== The network was criticized by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for its ability to share copyrighted materials through a faster medium. On October 5, 2004, Cary Sherman, the president of the RIAA, talked about i2hub in a statement to the United States House of Representatives.<ref name=house1>{{cite news|publisher=United States House of Representatives|url=http://judiciary.house.gov/legacy/sherman100504.htm|date=2004-10-05|title=STATEMENT OF CARY SHERMAN, PRESIDENT, RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COURTS, THE INTERNET, AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) PIRACY ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES: AN UPDATE|author=Cary Sherman|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806070027/http://judiciary.house.gov/legacy/sherman100504.htm|archive-date=2010-08-06}}</ref> On April 12, 2005, the RIAA announced it was suing 405 i2hub users, students at 18 colleges and universities, for copyright infringement.<ref name=riaa1>{{cite news|publisher=RIAA|url=https://www.riaa.com/newsitem.php?news_year_filter=2005&resultpage=9&id=C7FEB5DE-3869-77B7-2206-FD6E197C0B69l|date=2005-04-12| title=RIAA TARGETS NEW PIRACY EPIDEMIC ON SPECIAL HIGH-SPEED CAMPUS NETWORK|author=Recording Industry Association of America}}</ref> On September 22, 2005, the United States House of Representatives had another hearing to discuss i2hub.<ref name=house2>{{cite news|publisher=United States House of Representatives|url=http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/judiciary/hju23572.000/hju23572_0.htm|date=2005-09-22| title=REDUCING PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) PIRACY ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES: A PROGRESS UPDATE|author1=Subcommittee on Courts |author2=the Internet |author3=Intellectual Property }}</ref> On November 14, 2005, i2hub was shut down with the message "RIP 11/14/2005. It was a good run. Forced to shut down by the industry."<ref name=cnet2>{{cite news|publisher=CNET News|url=http://news.cnet.com/Supercharged-college-P2P-network-closes/2100-1027_3-5952060.html|date=2005-11-04| title=Supercharged college P2P network closes|author=John Borland}}</ref><ref name=slyck1>{{cite news|publisher=Slyck|url=http://www.slyck.com/story994_i2hub_Shuts_Down|date=2005-11-15|title=i2hub Shuts Down|author=Thomas Mennecke|access-date=2010-07-25|archive-date=2010-03-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323025142/http://www.slyck.com/story994_i2hub_Shuts_Down|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=allbiz1>{{cite news|publisher=All Business|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/miscellaneous-retail-retail-stores-not/4382006-1.html|date=2005-11-15| title=File-Trading Network i2Hub Shuts Down|author=Antony Bruno}}</ref>
On January 17, 2006, ''The Wall Street Journal''<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/public/article/SB113751573975848680-4Gpxpk1YN_MDTFwowDU5rHUsleM_20070117.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top Wall Street Journal]</ref> wrote that UMASS students that were sued for using i2hub wanted founder Wayne Chang to pay for their lawsuits. Wayne Chang and his attorney, Charles Baker, who also represented StreamCast Networks (makers of the Morpheus P2P software), responded saying that i2hub has no liability in the matter and is protected by the EULA. The lawsuit was never filed by the UMASS students.<ref name=wsj1>{{cite news|publisher=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/public/article/SB113751573975848680-4Gpxpk1YN_MDTFwowDU5rHUsleM_20070117.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top|date=2006-01-17| title=Students Want File-Sharing Site To Pay for RIAA Settlements|author=Vauhini Vara}}</ref>
==Facebook lawsuits== ConnectU had sued Facebook in early 2004.<ref name=crimson2>{{cite news|publisher=The Harvard Crimson|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2004/9/13/lawsuit-threatens-to-close-facebook-mark/|date=2004-09-13| title=Lawsuit Threatens To Close Facebook|author=Timothy J. McGinn}}</ref> Facebook countersued in regard to the team's Social Butterfly project, and named among the defendants ConnectU, Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss, Divya Narendra, and Wayne Chang.<ref name=justia1>{{cite news|publisher=Justia|url=http://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/candce/5:2007cv01389/189975/|date=2007-03-09| title=The Facebook, Inc. v. Connectu, LLC et al|author=California Northern District Court}}</ref> Settlement was reached where Facebook acquired ConnectU for 1,253,326 shares of Facebook stock and an additional $20 million in cash.<ref name=bizinsider1>{{cite news|publisher=Business Insider|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/2009/2/facebook-paid-65-million-settlement-in-connectu-case|date=2009-02-10| title=Facebook Paid ConnectU Founders $65 Million Settlement|author=Dan Frommer}}</ref><ref name=nytimes2>{{cite news|work=The New York Times|url=http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/connectus-secret-65-million-settlement-with-facebook/|date=2009-02-10| title=ConnectU's 'Secret' $65 Million Settlement With Facebook|author=Brad Stone}}</ref> On August 26, 2010, ''The New York Times'' reported that Facebook shares were trading at $76 per share in the secondary market, putting the total settlement value at close to $120 million.<ref name=nytblog>{{cite news|work=New York Times|url=http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/25/investors-value-facebook-at-up-to-33-7-billion/|date=August 26, 2010| title=Investors Value Facebook at Up to $33.7 Billion}}</ref><ref name=venturebeat1>{{cite news|publisher=VentureBeat|url=https://venturebeat.com/2009/02/12/financial-wrinkle-lost-connectu-some-facebook-settlement-dollars/|date=February 12, 2009| title=Financial wrinkle lost ConnectU some Facebook settlement dollars|author=Eric Eldon}}</ref> Another lawsuit was filed to undo the settlement, as Facebook allegedly misrepresented the value of the stock by more than fourfold. If the settlement were adjusted to match, the total value would be over $466 million.<ref name=venturebeat2 >{{cite news|publisher=VentureBeat|url=https://venturebeat.com/2010/05/19/facebook-connectu-securities-fraud/|date=May 19, 2010|author=Owen Thomas|title=Facebook CEO's latest woe: Accusations of securities fraud }}</ref>
==The Winklevoss Chang Group lawsuit== On December 21, 2009, i2hub founder Wayne Chang and The i2hub Organization launched a lawsuit against ConnectU and its founders, Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss, and Divya Narendra, seeking 50% of the settlement. The complaint claimed,<ref>[https://www.scribd.com/doc/25379721/Chang-v-Winklevoss-Complaint Chang v. Winklevoss Complaint]</ref> that "The Winklevosses and Howard Winklevoss filed [a] patent application, U.S. Patent Application No 20060212395, on or around March 15, 2005, but did not list Chang as a co-inventor." It also stated "Through this litigation, Chang asserts his ownership interest in The Winklevoss Chang Group and ConnectU, including the settlement proceeds."<ref name="cnet3"/> Lee Gesmer (of prominent law firm Gesmer Updegrove, LLP) posted the [https://www.scribd.com/doc/25379721/Chang-v-Winklevoss-Complaint detailed 33-page complaint] online.<ref name="gesmer1"/><ref name=masslawblog1>{{cite news|publisher=Mass Law Blog|url=http://masslawblog.com/business-lit-session/connectu-and-facebook-goes-on-forever/|date=2010-01-18| title=The Road Goes on Forever, But the Lawsuits Never End: ConnectU, Facebook, Their Entourages|author=Lee Gesmer}}</ref>
On May 13, 2011, Judge Peter Lauriat made a ruling against the Winklevosses. Chang's case against them could proceed. The Winklevosses had argued that the court lacked jurisdiction because the settlement with Facebook had not been distributed and therefore Chang had not suffered any injury. Judge Lauriat wrote, "The flaw in this argument is that defendants appear to conflate loss of the settlement proceed with loss of rights. Chang alleges that he has received nothing in return for the substantial benefits he provided to ConnectU, including the value of his work, as well as i2hub's users and goodwill." Lauriat also wrote that, although Chang's claims to the settlement are "too speculative to confer standing, his claims with respect to an ownership in ConnectU are not. They constitute an injury separate and distinct from his possible share of the settlement proceeds. The court concluded that Chang had pled sufficient facts to confer standing with respect to his claims against the Winklevoss defendants."<ref name=hp051311>{{cite news|publisher=Huffington Post|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/13/wayne-chang-winklevoss-twins-facebook-settlement_n_861484.html|date=2011-05-13|title=Wayne Chang's Suit Against Winklevoss Twins Can Proceed, Judge Rules|author=Bianca Bosker}}</ref><ref name=law05132011>{{cite news|publisher=The National Law Journal|date=2011-05-13|title=Winklevoss Twins Loses Again in Court|author=Sheri Qualters|url=http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202493848503}}</ref><ref name=fox051311>{{cite news| url=http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/05/13/winklevoss-twins-sued-facebook-fortunes/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516051459/http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/05/13/winklevoss-twins-sued-facebook-fortunes/| url-status=dead| archive-date=May 16, 2011|publisher=Fox News|date=2011-05-13|title=Winklevoss Twins Sued For Part Of Their Facebook Fortunes}}</ref><ref name=allfacebook051311>{{cite news|url=http://www.allfacebook.com/developer-sues-winklevoss-twins-everybody-cheers-2011-05 |publisher=AllFacebook |date=2011-05-13 |author=Nick O'Neill |title=Developer Sues Winklevoss Twins, Everybody Cheers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108050044/http://www.allfacebook.com/developer-sues-winklevoss-twins-everybody-cheers-2011-05 |archive-date=2012-01-08 }}</ref><ref name=pcmag051311>{{cite news|publisher=PC Magazine|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2385383,00.asp|date=2011-05-13|author=Chloe Albanesius|title=Winklevoss Twins Face Lawsuit Over Facebook Funds}}</ref><ref name=bloomberg051311>{{cite news|publisher=Bloomberg|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-13/winklevoss-twins-face-suit-over-failed-alliance.html|author=Sophia Pearson|date=2011-05-13|title=Winklevoss Twins Face Suit Over Failed Alliance, Judge Says}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
Category:File sharing software Category:Internet properties established in 2004 Category:Student culture Category:Privately held companies based in Massachusetts