Peer to Peer (P2P) technology has been around for some time since the 80's but was first widely deployed and popularized by file-sharing applications such as Napster and KaZaA. P2P technology allows users to share, search for and download files from other users using the same file sharing program. The term P2P rings bells in people's heads but despite that, they continue to work these networks, swapping millions of files of copyrighted material. Virtually unstoppable, users on such networks can connect to each others computers and download files off their hard drives. Among some of the p2p programs available on the internet, the most famous ones after Napster are Kazaa and Gnutella. Webopedia defines p2p as:
"A type of network in which each workstation has equivalent
capabilities and responsibilities. This differs from client/server
architectures, in which some computers are dedicated to serving the
others."
A good definition of P2P software has been proposed by Dave Winer of UserLand Software. Dave suggests that
P2P systems include these seven key characteristics:
•the user interface runs outsides of a Web browser
•computers in the system can act as both clients and servers
•the system is easy to use and well-integrated
•the system includes tools to support users wanting to create content
or add functionality
•the system makes connections with other users
•the system does something new or exciting
•the system supports "cross-network" protocols like SOAP or XML-RPC
In this view of peer-to-peer computing, people can join peer-to-peer networks that span the Internet, not just a home local area network (LAN). Easy-to-use P2P software applications allow non-technical people to participate equally, too. The legal issues involved with peer to peer technology are abundant. The main issue being the unlawful swapping of copyrighted material on these networks; without the permission of the rightful owners, thus infringing copyright laws.
Although Napster was shut down, many users switched to newer applications such as Kazaa and Kazaa Lite. These newer networks then grew to become even larger than the original Napster network. The recording industry relates peer to peer technology to piracy, as it involves the unlawful swapping of copyrighted works. Now even more p2p applications are developed by businesses to keep the network of p2p users alive.
P2P technology is here to stay and it will continue to evolve.
Back to Mp3 and digital music
References:
2)http://compnetworking.about.com/od/p2ppeertopeer/a/p2pintroduction.htm
Also see these additional resources:
Peer-to-Peer music filesharing - casestudy of Kazaa
The truth about peer to peer piracy prevention act
Disabling peer to peer file sharing
Peer-to-Peer music filesharing - the future
Zinesh gavin 23:23, 28 Oct 2004 (EST)