Case Study: Peer to Peer

So most of us have heard of it and many of us utilise the capabilities afforded through file sharing, but how much of what we are doing is legal and how many of us feel guilty about downloading using Bit Torrents and then sharing our files with other users?


P2P as Software/technical network

• ‘How the old Napster worked’
• An Introduction to Peer-to-Peer Computing - David Barkai (Intel)
• Youtube version of "Piracy is Good?" by Mark Pesce

Piracy is Good?

Considering the illegality of peer to peer (P2P) when listening to the Mark Pesce's lecture on file sharing television programs is almost baffling. Here we have a system that will distribute your program faster and more efficiently than ever before and the reaction is to prevent it from happening. I understand the workings of media and I know the implications that this style of file sharing imposes, but would the producers of Dr Who or Battlestar Gallactica be celebrating such success if their programs had not been available for download prior to the actual release date.

I think of file sharing as cyber word of mouth. The ability to have your product widely distributed and appreciated is key when establishing a product. Some would argue that P2P is destroying the money making abilities of the artist in the case of music or producers for television programs, but that really isn't the case in my opinion. Yes, I am playing the Devils advocate and supporting the view that free downloads do not rob the creative industries.

Downloading songs and TV shows using Bit Torrents these days are common occurrences. Friends divulge their dirty secret not in hushed tones reserved for regular criminal activity but rather unabashedly. While I am not an advocate for piracy or theft of any kind and do not normally condone breaking the law, I do not think the example of downloading a song for personal use should be akin to a major DVD burning and bootlegging syndicate, and actually believe that the home user may be doing the artist a favour.

Many home users who do use Bit Torrents for downloading music, shows and movies have been to many live gigs and bought t-shirts, sought out TV box sets of favourite shows and purchased additional software to accompany what had been downloaded using P2P. All things that without having been exposed to them first using P2P maybe would not have been done. Monies generated by the add-on purchases by going to see live music or buying the box set for the extra features is substantial and artists and producers really have file sharing to thank for the extra marketing that the exposure is earning them. It makes music/shows/movies etc aimed at a small demographic more widely distributed and the likelihood of your work being seen is increased when released in this format.

Coldplay and Radiohead and two recent bands that released their new albums online. Radiohead launched a "pay what you think its worth" campaign that became widely accepted and people loved that, without fully realising it was in itself a marketing ploy to further expose the music. Coldplay launched their album Viva La Vida (Death and all of his friends) exclusively on iTunes for a similar reason. Both of these sat at the top of the charts for weeks and were talked about endlessly. When either band tours, the exposure will have done them a favour and their money will be awarded in merchandise and ticket sales.

I also think that the product has a bit of exclusivity about it and makes it more special because there is no hard copy. Many diehard music buffs will tell you that they buy the CD for the cover, when there isn't one it drives the fans to research the album more. Doing that is increasing awareness which is great for the band. It's really a very smart way to go.

Information Transfer and Community

• P2P Networking: An Information-Sharing Alternative Parameswaran, Susarla & Whinston
• Peer-to-Peer for Academia – Andy Oram

The use P2P is mostly famous for is the file sharing of music, TV programmes and DVDs. Although it is very easy to assume that all P2P files then are sleazy havens of copyright breech, that is not the case. "It is also a valuable means for distributing entirely legal material such as public domain books, legal music and audio files, videos, pornography, games and software." (Annette Devonshire 2004) First uses reveal that the application of sharing files was popular among business and community newsgroups.

Information transfer within this type of establishment was anything but the controversial topic it is today, and is in fact still used to transport information that is not copyright and therefore not illegal. P2P is an established way to communicate and as a decentralized network invites all to join in. It tends to be a collaborative exercise individuals want to be a part of.

‘Henry Jenkins, Playing Our Song? Henry Jenkins discusses the napster community.

Peer-to-peer excites people because they can participate and make a difference. Even something as impersonal as SETI@home, where users downloaded software that performed calculations in the background, attracted millions of volunteers. And many said they did it because they felt like they were part of something. Just think how much more sense of ownership and pride can evolve around systems where you share ideas and content that have personal meaning to you.
(Andy Oram, editor O'Reilly P2P. openp2p.com)


Security and Privacy


In the article titled "Is Your Computer Talking to Strangers?" by Gene and Katie Hamilton, we have a brief lesson in good versus evil. The MAD magazine analogy of Spy Vs Spy used to describe the dangers of file sharing because we do not know who we are dealing with was a great way to catch my attention at the perfect time. Nothing like a comic strip to get the message across after a day of reading and researching.

Basically, the dangers of other peers spreading adware and spyware is nothing new. We have all at some stage received spam emails or looked at dodgy sites. It's keeping your wits about you and having in place some good software to combat these nasties.

Spychecker is a link provided in the curriculum that provides information and lists on available downloads that will help with things like privacy and security associated with P2P.


Socio-political Considerations

We now know that the impact P2P has on creative industries is not good. I would like to explore the notion that it could be great but isn't because of narrow minded individuals in very high places who dislike change and are scared about the adaptation that will inevitably take place.

The evolution of the Internet pairing up the likes of P2P file sharing and Web 2.0 communities is slowly emerging properly. Coupling the best aspect of entertainment, that you can share it and love it and talk about it with your friends.

To discover a new band that isn't played on the radio or like a television program that isn't shown in prime time or worse yet has been pulled mid season is very frustrating. Not making these things available to people is ridiculous when the platform is there waiting to be exploited in the best possible way.

References

Devonshire, Annette. 27 Oct 2004 (EST) M/Cyclopedia: Peer-to-Peer - Other Uses
http://wiki.media-culture.org.au/index.php/Peer-to-Peer_-_Other_Uses
Retrieved 19 July 2008