P2P

File sharing can be defined as the transference of files and data on computers through a network or the internet. Multiple people can gain access to this type of content and transmit it across other computers. Similarly, P2P file sharing includes peer-to-peer connections, in which users view media files with the help of a software program that finds computers with a specific file. This allows individuals to locate various types of information, such as music, books, movies, television shows, etc., from any computer. Some examples of P2P file sharing includes Gnutella, LimeWire, eMule, and Bearshare. A New York Times article explains that BitTorrent, another P2P technology, has been used to "find free copies of movies, still in theaters, in a matter of minutes."(Stelter, Stone, 2009) Simply through the search engine, users share illegal copies of media content across the internet. While illegal, many still participate in this behavior, but sites like LimeWire get shut down because of it.