One of the anti-piracy outfits announced it has developed a new tool to detect file-sharers. The new browser plugin is supposed to harvest torrent and cyberlocker links while users are browsing the Internet. This data will then be sent back to the outfit for subsequent processing and finally result in DMCA takedown notices.

At the moment, most anti-piracy entities rely on their own web crawlers and even Google to detect infringing links and files. After this they send DMCA notices to search engines, torrent and file-hosting websites, blogs and forums, trying to get that content taken down. Apart from the above techniques, anti-piracy company called MUSO has developed an innovative method of collecting data on potentially infringing links and files.

MUSO says that the new plugin would enable any Internet user to report back the location of “pirate” content whenever it appears in the browser. The user will be able to see how many files and links have been detected before submitting information to the MUSO database. Since cyberlockers don’t normally allow direct searching, the links will be found via search engines, forums and blog websites linking back to the cyberlocker.

The question is how to differentiate pirate files from legitimate ones. The plugin developers explained that the links will feed into the MUSO system to correctly match only illegal content links to creative content. The group promised to use a combination of automated matching algorithms, followed by a final human verification stage before any takedowns.

Another question is whether sending potentially infringing links can have legal implications for the users and whether their submissions will be trusted as accurate. MUSO promised that the plugin is fully anonymous and users would not be identified in any way. In the meantime, the harvested data will merely be a way to make the system aware of a link, which then will enter into the matching and verification process.

Although the anti-piracy group hasn’t announced the date for the plugin’s release, the piece of software has already piqued the interest of a developer in the file-sharing community. It turned out that a people-powered link finding plugin, if modified, can be useful to more people than just an anti-piracy outfit. MUSO revealed that the plugin will initially be available for Chrome, and then also for IE and Firefox.