Download - P2P Capstone
By: Ashley Kowalczyk, Josh Pilarcik-Murawski, Marko Balac
Brief DescriptionBrief DescriptionPeer-to-Peer (referred to as P2P) is a type of Internet Peer-to-Peer (referred to as P2P) is a type of Internet
network that allows a group of computer users with the network that allows a group of computer users with the same networking program to connect with each other same networking program to connect with each other and directly access files from one another's hard and directly access files from one another's hard drives.drives.
Unlike most networks, file sharing Unlike most networks, file sharing networks eliminate the need for a networks eliminate the need for a
central serverscentral servers
History of P2P ProgramsThere have been 3 different generations of
P2P Programs over the years
As each generation stumbled, programmers worked on ways to improve the methods that were being used
The 1The 1stst Generation Generation
Napster was the original P2P Program that popularized the concept of file sharing
Developed in September 1999 by Shawn Fanning because he wanted an easier method for finding music
Relatively Low Hardware Requirements: Basic Home Computer, 56K Modem
Napster failed because when the RIAA came down on it for copyright infringement all they had to do to shut it down was turn off the central server
“I know for a fact that there are other systems in development that are being programmed right now and developed," he said. "I think (that) even if Napster goes away, the idea of file sharing will be very, very hard to defeat.” ~ Ben Berkowitzke (Technology Reporter)
Major Figure: NapsterTime Period: 1999-2001Reasons for Development: Efficient, Easy to ControlReason for Collapse: Central Server Approach
The 2nd Generation
After Napster’s collapse, programmers devised a way to eliminate the need for a central server
Files began to be shared between individuals directly
The introduction of DSL and Broadband internet connections allowed these programs to thrive
The introduction of the DVD burner now made downloading movies a possibility
Major Figures: Kazaa, Limewire, Gnutella, Morpheus Time Period: 2000-PresentReasons for Development: De-centralized NetworkReasons for Collapse: None yet
The 3rd Generation
BitTorrent was created in 2003 by Bram Cohen
“It seemed pretty clear to me that there is a lot of bandwidth out there, but it's not being used properly. There's all of this upload capacity that people aren't using.“
Follows the principle that the faster you upload the faster you download
BitTorrent cuts files up into many little pieces and as soon as a user has a piece they can start uploading the piece to others
Major Figures: BitTorrentTime Period: 2003-PresentReasons for Development: Capitalize on Bandwidth
To use or not to use?To use or not to use?Advantages Disadvantages
•Easily Available Programs
•Fast Download Times
•Numerous Types of Media Format (mp3, videos, games)
•Free of Charge
•Decrease in Computer Performance
•Receiving Files that Contain Viruses
•Receiving Malware or Adware
•Being a Victim of Identity Theft
•Being sued by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America)
•Lack of Privacy
Possible Consequences
YouTube Video
What you need to knowFile sharing technology itself is legal, but downloading
copyrighted material without permission is illegal
Bentley College blocks all P2P Programs except Napster
The version of Napster that all students have is a paid service
Violations here at Bentley are handled by the Network Administrator
Individuals can be fined for repeated use and can lose some computer privileges
P2P in the News
In November 2007 an Anti-P2P College Bill advanced to the House of Representatives
The bill would require Universities to devise plans for alternative offerings to unlawful downloading
Universities that fail to comply with the regulation may become ineligible for federal financial aid programs
Critics of the bill fear that low income students will be harmed because they are not going to be able to receive the necessary funding
More P2P Controversy More P2P Controversy In October 2007 Comcast was accused of blocking and
slowing access to its customers from P2P programs
Comcast denied any such actions
A November 30th report released by the Electronic Frontier Foundation discovered that Comcast used hacker like techniques to slow down its customer connections
The report stated that Comcast appears to be injecting reset packets into its consumers connections, causing the connections to close
In November the Federal Communications Commission was formally asked to look into Comcast’s practices
The Impact of P2P Programs The Impact of P2P Programs on the Recording Industryon the Recording IndustryThere has been an ongoing debate as to whether or not P2P
Programs have harmed the music industry
A study released in 2004 found that “file sharing has no statistically significant effect on purchases of the average album.”
Individuals who support this claim argue that alternative factors effect the decrease in record sales
Some of these factors are “poor macroeconomic conditions, a reduction in the number of album releases, growing competition from other forms of entertainment such as video games and DVDs”
Other individuals feel P2P programs have benefitted the music industry by increasing market exposure and reducing marketing and advertising costs
What do the Artists Think?The RIAA continues to sue individuals for using
P2P programs claiming that their actions harm record sales, but is it really necessary?
In a recent December interview, 50 cent stated: "What is important for the music industry to understand is that this really doesn't hurt the artists."
Instead 50 Cent stresses that: “The main problem is that the artists are not getting as much help developing as before file-sharing. They are now learning to peddle ringtones, not records. They don't understand the value of a perfect piece of art.”
P2P Programs in the P2P Programs in the Business WorldBusiness WorldMany companies have begun to implement P2P programs
into their business practices
Intel has designed a P2P Program called Netbatch, that allows employees to share computer simulations and swap various files
Intel has saved $500 million since creating the program
Oil Company Amerada Hess has been able to reduce the need to buy high end computer systems by using the power of p2p networking
IBM has also implemented P2P networking tactics because it lessens bandwidth requirements on their jammed networks
The World’s Stance on P2PCanada proposed $5.00 monthly tax on internet
connections in exchange for allowing users to share music via P2P Programs
French government is beginning to monitor individuals Internet traffic
France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy has enacted a 3 strike policy against P2P programs
Individuals who violate the program will have their internet service shut down by their providers
What will the U.S. do?
Our ViewsOur ViewsWe believe that P2P technology is very
valuable if used appropriately
We feel that by using a P2P program an individual is sharing music and not stealing it
The fines imposed by the RIAA are unreasonable
P2P Programs have actually benefitted artists
Works Cited
http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2000/06/36961 http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/8434/a_review_and_history_of_p2p_fil
e_sharing.html http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Fall02/Moody/history.html http://media.www.dailyvidette.com/media/storage/paper420/news/2007/10/29/
News/Downloading.P2p.Networks.Risks.Identity.Theft-3061071.shtml
http://web20.telecomtv.com/pages/?newsid=42156&id=e9381817-0593-417a-8639-c4c53e2a2a10&view=news
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/p2ppeertopeer/g/bldef_p2p.htm http://ask-leo.com/will_bittorrent_harm_my_computer.html http://www.mac-p2p.com/p2p-history/ http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Fall04/Davison/napster.html http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/12/technology/circuits/12shar.html?
ex=1391922000&en=da75cefbee224928&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND http://www.news.com/Anti-P2P-college-bill-advances-in-House/2100-1028_3-
6218834.html?tag=cd.top http://www.rufuspollock.org/economics/p2p_summary.html http://angryape.com/news/2007/12/50-cent-says-file-sharing-doesnt-hurt-artists