P2P

=**Peer-to-Peer (P2P)**=
 * [[image:https://ccit205.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/p2P.jpg]]**=

toc According to Whatis.com, P2P (or Peer to Peer) is //"A communications model in which each party has the same capabilities and either party can initiate a communication session”// (Brosnan). In other words, P2P is a direct communication or collaboration between computers, where all machines are equal, or peers, as opposed to the usual sever – client setup. A more technical definition of P2P was put together by Dave Winer of UserLand Software. He suggests that for a system to be P2P it should have the following seven characteristics (Brosnan). User interfaces load outside of a web browser.
 * User computers can act as both clients and servers.
 * The overall system is easy to use and well integrated.
 * The system includes tools to support users wanting to create content or add functionality.
 * The system provides connections with other users.
 * The system does something new or exciting.
 * The system supports "cross-network" protocols like SOAP or XML-RPC.

In short, a P2P network is where two or more peers (computing devices) share resources and information with each other freely, without either the sender or the receiver necessarily being a server or a client.

=Server-Client Setup (B2C)=

Generally speaking, a server – client network setup would involve at least one main computer acting as the server, which sends out information to many different receivers (clients). This method can also be referred to as B2C (Business to Consumer). This setup is typical of many websites, where downloadable data is stored on a main server or computer and anyone from anywhere can receive this information by accessing it on the Internet and downloading it onto their computers.

=History of P2P=

P2P networking has been around for several years now and existed well before Napster and Kazaa. It can be traced back to ARPANET in the 1960’s, where hosts were connected as equal peers rather than client – server (Crosse). It suddenly became popular, however, literally overnight in 1999 when an 18 year old college student, Shawn Fanning (nicknamed Napster), created a software program which enabled him to share his music files with others via the Internet.

There are 3 different types of P2P networks:
 * 1) **Pure P2P:**
 * users are in total control of the server
 * there is no one server or router
 * 1) **Hybrid P2P:**
 * In this case their is a regulator who keeps information on the users in their central server.
 * In Hybrid P2P it is the responsibility of the users to save the files and host the information for the server does not store the file that the users are going to request.
 * Route terminals are used addresses
 * 1) **Mixed P2P:**
 * Combination of both Pure P2P and Hybrid P2P

Napster
Shawn Fanning created this software after he became frustrated while trying to find and swap digital music files (mp3’s) online, when he knew very well that thousands of people had these files stored on their hard-drives. Napster’s biggest reason for success, besides it being available for free download, was that it was easy to use and supported many different functions. Features of Napster included instant messaging, search capabilities, and file sharing. Since 1999, there have been several other new developments in P2P.

Kazaa
Kazaa was one of the most popular file sharing programs around, mainly due to its new features, which included the sharing of not only music files, but also videos, programs, images and text. Unfortunately, Kazaa users soon found that Spyware could easily be downloaded unknowingly onto their computers as they downloaded files. On top of the threats of virus’, many of the files found on Kazaa were fake or of very low quality. Many files were named incorrectly and rather than getting a Van Halen song, as the file name suggested, you might get Britney Spears, or vice versa. Also, as the years went by, popup advertisements would appear on Kazaa while users attempted to download files. Kazaa Lite would subsequently be release later on (which featured “ad-free file sharing), as well as similar programs such as Morpheus and GNUtella.

=Legal Issues=

Of course with the free sharing of copyrighted files, legal issues will, and did, arise. The legal issues associated with P2P are quite complex and need to be dealt with on an international scale. There are millions of people with access to the Internet who could all potentially use some P2P technology to directly infringe copyright law and there appears to be quite a large group who do. So it would be a huge task for any artist/retailer/company or even a group of such people to get such a large number of people convicted of copyright infringement (Burke).

Metallica v. Napster
The most famous account of such issues is the Metallica vs Napster case. On April 13, 2000, the metal band Metallica sued Napster for copyright infringement (Brosnan). The settlement in 2001 was that Napster was to pay $26,000,000 (twenty-six million) to song writers and publishers. Metallica certainly did attempt to shut down Napster, and to a certain extent they did. Recently, however, Napster has made a comeback and now offers its services for a fee which will undoubtedly go towards the $26 million they owe.

MGM. v. Grokster
See Issues in Peer-to-Peer (P2P) for case details.

=New Technologies=

Torrents
Torrent files are a fairly recent development in P2P. The basic premise is similar in fashion to Napster, wherein many users share many files between each other freely. The main difference is that while Napster was a program enabling users to search and download files that were on other users computers, Torrent programs only support downloading of files and do not have a built in search engine. This was done most likely to avoid the legal issues that Napster encountered. Torrent programs, such as BitComet and BitTorrent, rely on independent websites which catalog files and provide links to these files. Once these links are clicked, the Torrent program will open automatically and begin connecting to peers who have the desired file on their computers. These websites which catalog file lists mostly have full albums, full length movies, entire programs etc. rather than having single song files or small video clips that Napster or Kazaa would have.

=Is P2P Really That Bad?=

In terms of legal issues (outlined in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act), P2P file sharing programs present fears and concerns for the music and film industries, as well as software developers. When entire albums, full length feature films and fully functioning programs can be downloaded off the Internet for free, there are obvious reasons for concern from those who own rights to those files. There are, however benefits to P2P.

=**Protecting P2P**=

The technology behind P2P is incredibly versatile and powerful. The potential is infinite and we have yet to experience what the future holds. Many corporations have attacked P2P programs because of the files that are being shared, which is largely copyrighted property. There is good reason to stop this illegal activity, but these people should acknowledge that P2P programs offer an incredible amount of potential for file sharing in general and do not necessarily have to be used for illegal acts. Shutting down programs like Napster, Kazaa and Bit Comet is not the solution, and shouldn’t be. The technology is not at fault, it is the users.

**Possible solutions for preventing illegal file sharing**
The content that is shared could be monitored in order for illegal file sharing, but this brings up concerns with privacy and surveillance. New laws will most likely be the solution in the near future concerning digital file sharing over P2P networks, which will outlaw the sharing of any copyrighted files. This will be very hard to monitor, however, as there are users all over the world doing it. The most significant problem in relation to catching copyright infringers who use P2P is the distribution of users across international borders. The Law that shut down Napster may not apply in Afghanistan or Italy or somewhere in the internet connected world and P2P provider can easily set up in whatever country they won't be breaking the law in (Burke).

=P2P In the Realm of Gambling=

A very new and interesting issue is gambling through peer-to-peer. A Website that facilitates this is known as a Bet Exchange which acts as a broker between two or more parties for the placing of bets. The Bet Exchange takes a comission and is thus how it makes a profit. Bet Exchanges vary in what sports events they handle - most however allow for betting in most sports and racing.
 * How this works...**
 * Players place bets through websites on sporting events with the confidence that their bet will be paired up against a matching counter-bet. There is no limit as to how high the odds can be (bookmakers put a cap to prevent large winnings) and therefore allows for the placing of ridiculous odds with a ludicrous amount of pay. The only real restriction in Bet Exchange is that there must be someone willing to match your bet with a counterbet. The most popular form of bet exchange is BetFair which is a huge player on the international market of peer-to-peer gambling.
 * Players place bets through websites on sporting events with the confidence that their bet will be paired up against a matching counter-bet. There is no limit as to how high the odds can be (bookmakers put a cap to prevent large winnings) and therefore allows for the placing of ridiculous odds with a ludicrous amount of pay. The only real restriction in Bet Exchange is that there must be someone willing to match your bet with a counterbet. The most popular form of bet exchange is BetFair which is a huge player on the international market of peer-to-peer gambling.

see also Issues in Peer-to-Peer(P2P) and Peer-to-Peer Networks

**Works Cited**
Brosnan, Andrew. Maitrat, Tarun. Colhoun, Andrew. MacArdle, Bob. “Historical Development.” P2P Networks. 

Burke, David. Moore, Colm. Butler, Stuart. Davy, Steven. O’Keefe, Dervla. “Copyright and P2P.” P2P Networks. < http://ntrg.cs.tcd.ie/undergrad/4ba2.02-03/p3.html>

Crosse, Susan. Wilson, Elaine. Walsh, AnneMarie. Coen, David. Smith, Charles. “Napster.” P2P Networks. < http://ntrg.cs.tcd.ie/undergrad/4ba2.02-03/p4.html>