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