@lololulu19:
Yes, but if the old file is not bumped, or is sitting hidden in the "dead" zone, then everyone loses.
Ideally, the new uploader would be made aware of the OLD torrent which contains the same files, and sent the link to that old torrent.. so the new uploader could download the old torrent, rename his files accordingly, and point that old torrent to the files already on his drive. That way, the new uploader would be a new seeder, and the file would be bumped, and everyone would be happy.
Well, in theory, but that doesn't always work…the "new" dupe torrent would not only have to be the precise file size as far as bytes size-wise, but it can also depend on how the rip was done and also which program was used to rip it. I've tried such a thing and it has never really worked for me…if the dupe torrent was ripped with a different program, then it can more likely be impossible to simply use it to seed the older torrent. Even a variation of settings in the ripping program can cause indiscernible differences which make it impossible to use it to seed the old one...even if the file size is precisely the same, believe it or not.
If, however, the dupe torrent happens to be the exact same upload which someone either got somewhere else, or downloaded from the old torrent and simply renamed it, then it can usually work. Simple renaming of a video rip file, or a torrent folder for a pack or full disc, doesn't seem to make much difference in seeding issues for re-seeding on an older torrent.
My thought is, depending on how long an older torrent has been dead, as someone else said in this thread the new torrent should be the one to be kept and the older one deleted, simply because (as someone else said) unless there is at least one person who can seed on the old one, the old torrent may never be able to be re-seeded if no one still has the original files or files. If the old one has been dead long enough, that should be deleted and the new one kept.
I don't know if it could be done here by whomever handles the script for this site, but I've seen other sites where, when someone goes to upload a torrent and has filled in the information for their torrent upload, the site system automatically searches and checks the site to try and find a match for an identical torrent, and if it does, it gives an alert notice to the uploader.