The Future of File Sharing Essay - 2509 Words

According to recent research, 61% of people ages 14-24 illegally download copyrighted music (Van Der Sar, Aug. 2009). Known as â€Å"file sharing,† the process of making digital files available over the internet is a habit among many people of all ages. Since Napster, the first file sharing program, came out in 1999, the prevalence of file sharing steadily increased. According to Koleman Strumpf, by 2006, 60% of all internet traffic was due to file sharing, up from less than 10% in 1999 (Pries 1). The rapid growth of file sharing can be attributed to several factors, one of which is the general social acceptance of downloading music without paying for it (Grassmuck 1). Not everyone supports file sharing, however. The Recording Industry†¦show more content†¦Copying was free and unlimited. In order to take advantage of this new technology, a company called Napster came into existence (Taintor). Napster, the first centralized way for computer users to share music , started its business in 1999. Two years later, the company lost a lawsuit, and had to pay millions of dollars in damages (Taintor). This legal setback did not stop the spread of file sharing; if anything, it caused a large increase in the number of options people had to share their music (Taintor). To fill the hole left by Napster, several new file sharing applications emerged. The new applications used technology called â€Å"peer-to-peer,† which enabled users to share their files amongst one-another, rather than from a centralized server. This change in the way the applications worked allowed them protection from the legal woes that plagued Napster. Since then, content owners and publishers have taken to suing individuals to combat file sharing (Kravets). They argue that mass lawsuits are the only way to protect their artists, the music industry, and music itself from the evils of peer-to-peer file sharing. People cite many reasons for using file sharing services. One reason is to discover new music. While the radio provides some access to music listeners might not have heard, some music fans want to be able to explore on their own. These people want to know what they are buying before they pay for it.Show MoreRelatedFile Sharing Should Not Be Illegal1611 Words   |  7 Pagespast; one of the most controversial uses of technology is file sharing. File sharing is the exchange of files over computer networks. These files include all types of media, software, and books. While some file sharing is legal, there are illegal downloads of copyrighted property widely available; there are intense debates about the level of protection of intellectual properties that should be used for these files. The increase of sharing copyrighted media over the internet has led to many lawsuitsRead MoreEssay about The Future of P2P Technology and Music697 Words   |  3 PagesThe Future of P2P Technology and Music Since 1999, the situation around music has been changed drastically. In that year, the novel software â€Å"Napster† was released. With this software, people became able to get any file they want easily, sometimes illegally. Some musicians and people in the entertainment industry have tried to exterminate that P2P â€Å"Peer to Peer† technology. But it looks as if their efforts are in vain. People are going to use P2P technology more and it might as well become theRead MoreEssay on Music Copyright Infringement1224 Words   |  5 Pagesusers to compress and send music files easily over the Internet. The major problem with this music sharing is that most of the files are pirated, which has caused a stir in the music industry. Music companies and music artists have been complaining about how their music is being stolen and therefore lowering their album sales. The major blame has been put on Napster and other file sharing software available on the Internet. Napster was a music sharing software that was shut down becauseRead MoreFile Sharing And Its Effect On The Music Industry1433 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction File sharing technology has evolved at a fast rate (Oberholzer†Gee Strumpf, 2010). At this point in time, this world is hit by a new innovation very often. File-sharing relies on computers forming networks to transfer data from one system to another system on the network (Oberholzer†Gee Strumpf, 2010). It allows the users to search and download the content made available by each user connected to the network (Oberholzer-Gee Strumpf, 2010). File-sharing of unauthorized music beganRead MoreThe Pirate Bay Case Study1586 Words   |  7 PagesThe Pirate Bay Case Study: Social and Legal Issues Raised by File-Sharing Networks Abstract This paper explores the social and legal issues raised by Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing of copyrighted material on websites. Advocates claim companies are not libel for the acts of its customers and argue that litigation against file sharing will stifle technology innovation. Opponents assert that file sharing violates copyright and intellectual property protections and that companies like Pirate BayRead MoreFile Sharing and Online Piracy: How Does it Effect Copyrights? Is it Ethical?1535 Words   |  7 PagesCyrus to Nirvana, you have every type of music you could possibly imagine. Worst of all, you don’t even listen to a tenth of it! You’ve collected all this media for an outrageous price too: Absolutely Nothing. 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Simplified As P2p849 Words   |  4 Pagesway to share to share a variety of files. Some examples include music, movies, games, and documents. Essentially, with a P2P model, each user is also a server. Users can download data being shared on their peer’s servers, and in turn share the data the y downloaded with other users as well (makeuseof). So in more practical terms, P2P sharing gives the users total control over what is uploaded and downloaded in a P2P network. It’s the Wild West of file sharing. It has lawful and legitimate uses—suchRead MoreEssay on The Cost of Illegal Downloading 1651 Words   |  7 PagesAt the end of the 20th century, file sharing and illegal downloading through Napster were the biggest hits among audiences everywhere. Because of this, many people started to believe that the music industry was failing due to declining CD sales. Although a valid statement, the music industry is not failing; instead, it is changing in many aspects due to file sharing and illegal downloading. Music is always evolving in new and innovative ways, regardless of the minor comeback vinyl records haveRead MoreThe Epidemic Of Illegal File Sharing1571 Words   |  7 PagesBhattacharjee, S et al. (2006: 92) evidently reported the situation of illegal file sharing in 2003 and suggested the method to discard the problem that: In response to this â€Å"epidemic of illegal file sharing† (RIAA 2003a), on June 26, 2003, RIAA redirected legal threats toward individual subscribers of these networks who, in the past, enjoyed anonymity in P2P environments. Prior to RIAA’s recent legal efforts, individual file sharers were almost completely immune from legal liability when violating copyright