Usage of peer-to-peer networks for music file-sharing

Essay from the year 2005 in the subject Communications - Multimedia Internet New Technologies grade: High Distinction Macquarie University (Centre for International Communication) course: New Media language: English abstract: This essay examines the usage of peer-to-peer (P2P) networks for music file-sharing and intends to analyse this usage in the context of current copyright policy. This will be achieved by addressing the following issues. Firstly the history and principle of P2P networks will be outlined. Secondly it will be analysed whether P2P file-sharing can be seen as an act of 'theft'. Thirdly the paper will examine how P2P networks are used and what cultural significance they represent. Fourthly the future of P2P networks will be debated and finally the results of this paper will be summarised and discussed.