P2P File Sharing

File sharing is the process of providing access and opportunity to download digital media that is stored on one computer to a mass of people.  Digital media files have become the main means of storing movies, music, software programs, and office documents.  
P2P file sharing, or Peer-to-Peer file sharing, is the transmission of files which have been broken down into millions of bits.  An entire network of computers, each of which have the files, contribute to the transmission by providing parts of the files.  When another member of the network gains access to the files, they become part of the distribution system since other users can now get parts of the files from them.  P2P is a very easy and quick way to gain access of files.  
There were and are many P2P networks, many of which have been deemed to be illegal. P2P networks, which use Bit Torrents, can be a very useful tool for sharing files.  However, these networks provide the opportunity to share large amounts of copyrighted material.  Networks such as Pirate Bay, Napster and Limewire, have been hit by legal action and shut downs.  Chris Nuttall, of the Financial Times, stated that P2P file sharing is so popular that it accounts for between 40 and 50 per cent of all internet traffic.  There is an ongoing fight by the media companies wanting to protect their properties. It seems as though this fight will go on for some time because of the sheer size and scope of P2P sharing.  It should be remembered that P2P sharing is a very valuable platform if used legally.  It is the rampant sharing of copyrighted material that is the problem.  Sharing an entire file is illegal, but many P2P members point out that they are each only sharing parts of files.  The legal fight continues.