LBRY might disrupt all current forms of digital file distribution, and might become the universal base layer protocol for how all digital files are shared between viewers and publishers on the internet - For free, or for money.

Before we go any further, we must learn: What is a protocol?

A protocol is a defined set of rules of how we let our computers and applications communicate between each other.

Bitcoin (BTC) is a cryptographic protocol which defines the rules of how transactions are made, and how Bitcoins are produced by miners who use their computing power to keep the network up.

LBRY is also a cryptographic protocol, like Bitcoin; where transactions are made between users, and LBRY Credits (LBC) are produced by miners as well.

But with LBRY, you also have the function of distributing links to any kind of digital file, which you have on your computer; either for free, or for money (LBC).

The LBRY team is about to publish their public beta version of the LBRY App, (scheduled May 2017 for Win, OS X, Linux) with a GUI to discover, view and publish digital content. (So far videos and e-books are most popular.)

It currently looks like this:

https://spee.ch/lbryscrreen1

More about protocols...

http:// <---- Do you recognize this?

HTTP is a network protocol which defines the rules of how websites communicate with each other. The reason we can use http:// on our internet browsers like: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Internet Explorer; is because they have implemented the HTTP protocol in their applications. In other words; without HTTP, you would not be able to see any webpages on the internet.

Hmmm... but, but, but... How is HTTP related to LBRY, and what does it mean for the future?

lbry:// <---- This is the future

It is possible to implement the protocol inside an internet browser; like Google Chrome.

And there has already been an wallet-extension created (in development) for Google Chrome to use LBRY-links and store LBRY Credits.

https://spee.ch/lbrybrowserscreen1

That in itself is amazing! What if the whole world could just share digital file links in this way?

"hey, watch my video, guys! its at lbry://coolvideo"

You may think: But it will most probably take a long time, or be almost impossible for lbry:// to become a universally implemented protocol likewise as http://

But you can actually use LBRY today, without downloading any extension or app.

Because: You just used LBRY.

How?

The images in this article are fetched from https://spee.ch

https://spee.ch/lbrybrowserscreen1
https://spee.ch/lbryscrreen1

Spee.ch is a single-serving site that reads and publishes images to and from the LBRY blockchain. It was created in less than 3 hours.

You can go to https://spee.ch and publish your own pictures for free, which will be available on the LBRY-blockchain.

Are you a developer?

https://spee.ch is proof that developers VERY easily can code their own webpages or applications, upon LBRY. Therefore, they can make platforms where people can transfer LBC and share digital content.

So, how is LBRY different from Youtube, Spotify, iStockphoto and Amazon Kindle?

LBRY is open source, and will let any developer build applications or websites upon it, like spee.ch.
LBRY gives the publisher and the viewer the ability to do direct file transferring, and money transactions between each other.
This eliminates the need for a third party, like Youtube, Spotify, iStockphoto and Amazon Kindle; who wants usually around 30%+ of profits, or who does not even give any profit at all for videos with low views (Youtube)
No annoying advertisement.
Always possible to download the whole file. (or .zip-files)

LBRY can ultimately provide something better for both the consumer and the publisher.

LBRY believes in free speech and content freedom to post politically incorrect, and/or pornographic; but fully legal content.

If LBRY receives reports of actual illegal publishings, (eg. child pornography or copyright infringement) then LBRY .Inc´s legal team can remove the access to the illegally published material in front-end from the App, but no one can remove anything back-end from the blockchain. The blockchain is public, so information about the publisher is transparent to the whole world.

Flag of free speech: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Speech_Flag

You can join LBRYs mailing list for invitation to the beta version (this is my referral link. It will get me 5 LBC per invitation) https://lbry.io/get?r=j3of2

Are you a developer of any kind?

If you think this is interesting, and would like to build upon LBRY or make android/iphone-apps/extensions/websites etc, and maybe earn money (LBC) for it; then you should join their Slack-channel, and talk directly with the main developers, and likeminded people. Hard work awards money! Check their bounty-program: https://lbry.io/bounty

Are you a video publisher, or own ANY kind of digital files?

If you are a publisher and LEGAL owner of any kind of digital files? Start publishing for free, or charge money. The market decides your success. If you are popular/big already, then you can maybe be rewarded an early adopter bonus. Check out their Slack-channel.

- Just please tell them "Rouse" referred you. ;)

If you would like to invest your money in this technology which has an increasingly higher value, then you must first have bitcoin (BTC), and then buy LBRY Credits at for example a cryptocurrency exchange; like https://poloniex.com/exchange#btc_lbc

my LBC donation address: bFCBt5xPtEtXp1o2wZFnK6CFFMfcsEhN6i

my BTC donation address: 16vT1nECHxB2F49DJ3fPcwRbYQh9KNBLgL

LBRY INVITATION SIGN-UP: https://lbry.io/get?r=j3of2

Also read: LBRY - Audiences and potential use cases.