P2P File Sharing

According to technopedia, file sharing is the practice of sharing or offering access to digital information or resources, including documents, multimedia (audio/video), graphics, computer programs, images and e-books. File sharing connects users to users on the computer from both online and offline. One can simply share online using upload sites or share offline using removable storage devices.

P2P file sharing according to Google dictionary, it allows users to access media files such as books, music, movies, and games using a P2P software program that searches for other connected computers on a P2P network to locate the desired content. What this mean is what I mentioned above, online file sharing through upload sites. It can be either from one to one which is when one user sends files to another user, or it can be one to many whereas the user upload files into a public site and many other users can feed off of it. With all this information being transfer from one person to another/others, are there any restrictions one might ask. According the NY Times “Should Online Scofflaws Be Denied Web Access” written by Eric Pfanner, ““If you put 200 VCRs in your garage and start making and selling copies of films, you will get a visit from the police,” he said. “If you do it from a Web site, everybody says, ‘Hey, freedom of information’ ”. There are many risks that come with file sharing, and one of the biggest is online piracy. Are things uploaded online consider free or is it properly copyrighted and anyone who uses without authorization is subject to criminal charges?

Some examples of P2P file sharing include downloading music or videos from ITunes or Apple music. These website acts as an online storage and when purchased, you can directly download the content off the website. Other’s includes applications like Google Doc or Dropbox, where as one can store information into their accounts and it can be shared through links or access to the drive.

Eric Pfanner. “Should Online Scofflaws Be Denied Web Access?" The New York Times, April 13, 2009. Web. June 22, 2016.