Legal Issues

Most P2P usage (which comprises a significant fraction of all file-sharing) is against the law because it involves the sharing of copyrighted materials without permission from the copyright owner, usually music (MP3) or movie files, but also TV programs, books and images.

What is "file-sharing?"

A. File-sharing is the process of exchanging files over the Internet. The most common forms of file-sharing are: running an FTP server or using an FTP program, and using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) programs such as BitTorrent. Peer-to-Peer programs typically share files by default, to allow the maximum amount of sharing across the network.

What is the copyright issue?

Under copyright law, it is illegal to download or share copyrighted materials such as music or movies without the permission of the copyright owner. The record and movie industry in recent years has taken an aggressive approach to stopping illegal downloading and file sharing. This has put many students at the nation's colleges and universities at some legal risk.
Your actions when downloading or sharing files are traceable and could result in a significant financial penalty to you.

Pros & Cons Of File Sharing!

Pros:

• More available space for users to access programs
• Easier to back up files
• Reduce number of programs on any given network
• Simply administration
• Helps maintain consistency of shared data files

  
Cons:

• Security problems
• Potentially breaking copyright laws
• Duplication of data
• Data inconsistency
• Data Redundancy

 

How File Sharing Works?

The whole idea behind file sharing is to connect everyone in a network so that every computer can copy files from any other computer over the internet. The types of files we share can be anything from programs and pictures to music and movies. A file sharing program helps to connect to one of the many file sharing networks available. A file sharing program turns our computer into both client and server. As a client our computer can search a file sharing network to find and copy files from any other computer on the network. As a server our computer can provide files to anyone else on the network. 

Is file sharing illegal?

No, it's 100% legal. In no state in the United States or in any other country is file sharing illegal. However, if you're sharing content that is protected by copyrights so other users it is illegal. Below are some good examples of where file sharing becomes illegal in many places around the world.

1. Downloading or sharing a copyrighted movie.
2. Sharing copyrighted songs (music) to other people who have not purchased those songs or downloading songs from other people when you've not purchased that song.
3. Sharing or downloading computer software (programs, games, etc.).
4. Downloading or sharing a copyrighted TV show or program.