P2P File Sharing

1.      What is file sharing?

File sharing may take place through the internet, in which an assortment of different websites is used as a sort of “middle man” to share files containing diverse items such as music, movies, TV episodes, documentaries, images, and e-books.  File sharing can also be considered a two-way road in which one is able to access shared file content from other users. In one way, you are dispersing files into the internet for other likeminded individuals to view and use whilst at the same time gathering files from other users that may be of interest to you, whether it’s a book or image or an audio file.

2.       What is P2P file sharing?

Peer to Peer (P2P) file sharing is a type of file sharing. P2P file sharing can be defined as a new media technology or medium, P2P file sharing can come in the form of a website (4shared) or software (LimeWire) that allows its users to share books, music, movies, TV show episodes, documentaries, images, and games to others within the same P2P file sharing network or platform while simultaneously having access to others’ files which can be downloaded for one’s own perusal.

3.       What are some examples of P2P file sharing?

Some examples of P2P file sharing are:

a.       From the scholarly article called “Online Piracy and the Emergence of New Business Models” written by David Choi, discussed how Shawn Fanning had created a P2P file sharing medium called Napster which allowed users to store and contribute music to the site which could then be dispersed to other users who were interested in the songs (par. 22-23).

b.       From the same article written by David Choi, I learned about BitTorrent which is another P2P file sharing technology that was created by Bram Cohen, which allows users to download and share content through a unique method that resolves the issue of slow downloading time through a bit by bit method (par. 29-30).

c.       An article called “Peers Find Less Pressure Borrowing From Each Other” by Wendy Kaufman discussed another P2P example called the Lending Club which provides a new trending and novel way to borrow money or loans that is somewhat different from the traditional bank method.