P2P Networking

Before reading about Peer-to-Peer networks, all I knew was that they are used to share files or data, like music and videos. Now I know that there are Peer-to-Peer networks and Internet Peer-to-Peer networks. I have learned that Internet P2P is often used when people are downloading movies or music, whether or not it’s legal or illegal, and involves a client-server network. Consequently, computers in the network can either be used as servers of data files or clients. In addition, I now know that P2P networks are easier to use than Internet P2P and are likely less expensive or free to download. All P2P networks are used to share various kinds of files. However, movie or video, music, and graphic files are three of the most popular type of files that P2P networks are used to share. These uses are in fact legal; however, many of the actual music and movie files being shared through Internet P2P are being shared illegally. This means that the users, sending or receiving, these files do not have permission to download or share these music or movie files.

If P2P networks and sharing applications exist, then what exactly makes sharing some types of files using these networks illegal? Numerous amounts of files that can be downloaded using P2P sharing applications and networks, including music, movies, graphics, application software, and even software suites like Microsoft Office, are illegal to download. These files are illegal to download because the owners of the particular music, movie, or software files have not given permission to do so and have a Copyright. Therefore, by downloading these types of files, users are in violation of Copyright infringement and consequently, make the use of the P2P network or program illegal at the time of the illegal download.

I have used P2P networks before and I know a lot of people that use them also. I have downloaded a lot of music using the new Napster music sharing application, iTunes and Limewire. I will even admit that back in the late 1990’s and the year 2000, I think, I downloaded quite a bit of music and pictures without knowing at the time that I was doing so illegally. It’s not until the past 3-5 years, when hearing about Napster etc… that I discovered that I had illegally downloaded music in the past. I have downloaded shared music and video files before but have never been the one who was doing the ‘sharing.’ I do know that iTunes and Napster charge a fee before you are allowed to download any music and that Limewire has two different versions. One version of Limewire requires a membership and fee in order to download music and is much safer to use than, the other version which is free to download. The free version of Limewire, as mentioned, is not very safe to use and puts all its users at risk of picking up adware, malware and viruses. It also puts users at risk of copyright infringement because users do not officially know the source and authenticity of the files they download.

The University of Delaware enforces strict rules on illegal file sharing and prohibits the use of illegal sharing applications and illegal file sharing. UD encourages using legal P2P networks and deleting any illegal P2P sharing applications and illegal downloaded files. The University of Delaware can track IP addresses that offer illegal downloads and that commit copyright infringement. UD does not take kindly to students illegally downloading files or downloading any kind of illegal file and if you are a student and want to stay on campus and a student then you should probably not illegally download any kind of file.

I agree with the government taking some action on trying to stop illegal downloads but I do not think they should prosecute users so harshly, particularly because most of the users are teens and students. Now of days money is tight for everyone, especially teens and students, and it is easier and cheaper to just download the music by any means instead of spending $20 per CD. The government should figure out some sort of compromise that can make everyone happy. However, I think that the musicians, bands, and producers that own the music should be thankful for all the millions of dollars they make every day and that people want to listen to their music bad enough to illegally download it. I cannot think of anything I have read or heard that says that illegal music downloads have affected the amount of money that any musician makes. Apparently they are all still making their millions and will more than likely continue to. So what’s the big deal? Everyone should spend more time trying to find a compromise, get along, encourage equality, and not focus so much on money, legalities and well, money.