An Ethical Evaluation of Peer-to-Peer File Swapping Essays -- File Sha

An Ethical Evaluation of Peer-to-Peer File Swapping AbstractThe last few years has seen an explosion in the use of the Internet as a means for exchanging, free of charge, digital media by way of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file sharing technologies. Initially, the dedicate was primarily limited to the swapping of music, in the form of MP3 files. The pervasiveness of broadband, the advent of newer file types, and the population of more sophisticated technologies has subsequently made possible the exchange of other types as well including movies, television shows and software. Again, for free.In this paper, we result explore the ethical considerations of this practice as it relates to Intellectual Property (IP) whether protected by copyright law or not. We will concentrate primarily on music, but where appropriate, other media will be considered, as many of the issues are common across the different types.Taking a global perspective, one must keep in sagaciousness that the term copyri ght is not universally defined, accepted, or enforced. We must therefore use the term with the United States definition as a basis. However, absent U.S. law, we must also consider the creators intent as it relates to the distribution and use of his or her work. This exploration will lead us to a universal position one that claims that the wide- exceed, free exchange of Intellectual Property by means of P2P technology is unethical.The TechnologyThe P2P model gained wide scale notoriety with the success of Napster in late 1999. Almost overnight, P2P and Napster became household words. There are essentially two variations of the P2P model the Napster model and the Gnutella model. Both follow the first harmonic principle of P2P sharing ... ...Article also available on the web athttp//www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030505-447204,00.html 10 Preston Carter engineer at Hewlett-Packard and a in truth insightful friend.ReferencesIn addition to references cited abov eNolo Press, Nolo Law For All, Copyright Ownership Who Owns What?http//nolo.com/lawcenter/ency/article.cfm/objectid/BABFA71E-97C9-479F-8A9D4C3DB2498663/catID/2EB060FE-5A4B-4D81-883B0E540CC4CB1E Nolo Press, Nolo Law For All, Copyrighting Your Software Why Bother? http//nolo.com/lawcenter/ency/article.cfm/objectID/B09BB4E7-5744-4131-8B29ACD7CC408853/catID/2EB060FE-5A4B-4D81-883B0E540CC4CB1ENolo Press, Nolo Law For All, Copyright Protection What It Is, How It whole works http//nolo.com/lawcenter/ency/article.cfm/objectid/6A6540E0-325F-4BBE-A9B64DB3BB7BAAF0/catID/2EB060FE-5A4B-4D81-883B0E540CC4CB1E