CacheLogic, Ltd. has published a market study of file formats traversing the P2P (Peer-to-Peer) Networks that identifies the formats of choice for audio and video files among file traders. This study is based on actual packet data and traffic levels analyzed at Tier-One ISPs (Internet Service Providers) worldwide.

Using the Layer-7 technology found in both its Peer-to-Peer Management Solution and Deep Packet Inspection products, CacheLogic analyzed terabytes of data to discover a number of new facts regarding P2P audio and video trading across the entirety of the Internet.

For example, the overall mix of traffic by volume, across the 4 major Peer-to-Peer networks are divided in video file (61.44%), audio file (11.34%) and other formats (27.22%).

Microsoft video formats represent 46% of aggregate worldwide traffic, while MP3 files are 65% of all audio files by volume of traffic. Only 12.3% are in the open-source OGG file format, almost all exclusively traded on the BitTorrent network, particularly in Asia.

Against the believes of some in the industry, BitTorrent is increasingly being used for the distribution of legitimate content, with eDonkey being now the network of choice for video file trading.