Issues on File Sharing

Talking about file sharing, many controversies arise. One is the issue of illegal file distribution. Although file sharing itself is only a technology that enables the exchange of files and have been first used on the Bulletin Board System (BBS), Usenet, and Internet Relay Chat (IRC), but only the news with the emergence of Napster (founded by Shawn Fanning in 1999) which implements P2P for the distribution of MP3 files, along with the popularity of MP3 is capable of producing good sound quality with a relatively small size, and of course the Internet is widespread support at the time. Napster has three main functions, namely as:
1. Search engines to locate desired MP3 file.
2. File sharing for exchanging MP3 directly across computers.
3. IRC to chat online with other users.

Although implemented in a P2P file sharing, Napster still use the server for users who conduct online index, each of Napster users will be directed to log into the server. Later, the architecture is what causes the Napster service can easily be closed because it still depends on a central server.

In the short time since Napster was released, thousands of Napster users generate thousands of copies of copyrighted songs without the artists and record companies get back in return. Some sources mention different figures regarding the number of Napster users at its peak, ranged from 50 to 80 million users.

Napster’s popularity began to make use of file sharing is highlighted, and culminate in the demands of record companies association, and resulted in the closure of Napster (though later briefly appeared again legally, and allow downloading MP3 paid). Its influence on economic and industrial music into the debate, there are studies that suggest a negative impact of file sharing on sales of recorded music, while other studies concluded that file sharing actually increases sales of popular albums.

File sharing using P2P method does not necessarily stop, the various alternatives and successor to Napster emerged. Among other Gnutella, this is not even limited to MP3 files, but also any file that can be shared. In contrast to Napster, Gnutella does not require the server to do the index, but implementing a mutually pure P2P search online. For example, when a peer in Gnutella network online, then he would tell his existence by giving notification on 8 other peer, each of the eight peer will notify seven other peer, and so on. Each peer has information a large number of other peer is online, as well as content to share.

Decentralization as exemplified Gnutella P2P network makes it virtually can not be disabled, because there is no one central server that manages the user index or the only brain tissue. Le sizes that are shared are also getting bigger, such as files with the video format. The download process can also be performed simultaneously from various peers that have the requested file.

Decentralization as exemplified Gnutella P2P network makes it virtually can not be disabled, because there is no one central server that manages the user index or the only brain tissue. The sizes of files that are shared are also getting bigger, such as files with the video format. The download process can also be performed simultaneously from various peers that have the requested file.

Unlike the software Napster, Gnutella network can be accessed by a variety of different software during the application supports the Gnutella protocol. Some popular software have ever or still uses the Gnutella network, among others, BearShare, iMesh, LimeWire, Morpheus, Shareaza or Xolox. Some software supports multi-network, such as iMesh which in addition supports the eDonkey, Gnutella and also support Gnutella2.

P2P technology indicates that the Internet revolution is unstoppable. Napster’s innovative indeed made history and finally stopped, but much more powerful successor. Some P2P protocols with an extensive network of today include BitTorrent, eDonkey, and Gnutella.

Blocking file sharing is done from the ISP and backbone level is not always effective, from the business side of the music industry and possibly other media, began to adapt technologies to transform the workings of royalty/ license.