Behind Internet P2P File Sharing
The Shadow Internet (by Jeff Howe, Wired.com)
It’s a commonly held belief that P2P is about sharing files. It’s an appealing, democratic notion: Consumers rip the movies and music they buy and post them online. But that’s not quite how it works.
In reality, the number of files on the Net ripped from store-bought CDs, DVDs, and videogames is statistically negligible. People don’t share what they buy; they share what is already being shared – the countless descendants of a single “Adam and Eve” file. Even this is probably stolen; pirates have infiltrated the entertainment industry and usually obtain and rip content long before the public ever has a chance to buy it.
An interesting article on P2P file sharing used for pirating music and movies. Makes one think that subpoena’s agains ISP’s or home file sharers hardly addresses the tip of the iceberg. And of course included with a plethora of commentary at Slashdot
(Via Slashdot)