Chapter 23. Sharing Images, Audio, and Video over the Web: Kazaa

Internet file sharing is a way for Internet users to exchange various types of computer files, and it typically uses what is known as a peer-to-peer architecture. The concept of peer-to-peer computing was popularized by companies such as Napster, with their controversial file-sharing community for the exchange of MP3 music files. Recent entrants in the post-Napster world have included Kazaa, BearShare, WinMX, LimeWire, and many others.

Each of these companies offer a way for Internet users to exchange media files with one another by sharing file folders on their desktops and using software that enables distributed searching and downloading. The controversy around these types of services ...

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