Peer-to-Peer

Peer-to-Peer Networks

Peer-to-peer is a network that enables computers of similar capabilities to share resources, such as memory space, processing power and data.

The peer-to-peer model has been around since the concept of networking computers emerged in the 1970s. The Internet has been used to facilitate peer-to-peer communication for many years allowing efficient communication and productivity by geographically dispersed individuals.

Uses for Peer-to-Peer Networks

Peer-to-peer networks offer great advantages in terms of collaborating on specific tasks. Businesses can use peer-to-peer so employees can share files without the expense involved in maintaining a centralized server and as a way for businesses to exchange information with each other directly. Users can create online meeting spaces for project teams without involving the IT staff.  Common uses of the internet, such as instant messaging, use peer-to-peer.

One example of very innovative use of peer-to-peer was ‘The Philanthropic Peer-to-Peer Program’ launched by Oxford University and Intel to research cures for diseases such as cancer. The program helped to launch the socially significant concept of PC philanthropy – the linking of millions of PCs around the globe to create one of the most powerful computing resources in the world. Any online computer could be part of the ‘Screensaver Lifesaver’ project merely by downloading a programme from the project’s website. Over two million ordinary Internet users involved their desktop computers in the scheme. The resultant virtual supercomputer performed a variety of tasks including molecular analysis and drug optimisation without disturbing the work of the individual PC owners.

However peer-to-peer (now often referred to as P2P) has commonly come to describe applications such as Bittorrent and Gnutella. These applications allow Internet users to exchange files with each other directly or through a mediating server via the Internet. Computer users with the same type of P2P application can connect to each other and directly access files from one another’s hard drives.

Illegal File-sharing

Some people are using peer-to-peer applications to copy or distribute files including copyrighted material such as music, films and software without paying royalties. People who do this may be infringing the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

ISPs bear no liability for illegal file sharing as the content is not hosted on their servers. Although such files may be transmitted across an ISP’s network, ISPs are ‘mere conduits’ of information, as per the E-Commerce Regulations 2002.

ISPA does not support abuses of copyright and intellectual property theft. However ISPs cannot monitor or record the type of information passed over their network. ISPs are no more able to inspect and filter every single packet passing across their network than the Post Office is able to open every envelope. ISPs deal with many more packets of data each day than postal services and data protection legislation actually prevents ISPs from looking at the content of the packets sent.

ISPA refutes the claim that the Internet is to blame for declining music sales. Rights holders have been battling piracy for many years prior to the Internet’s widespread adoption. In fact in the second quarter of 2006, digital sales and downloads helped the UK singles industry record its best results in six years, with the market reaching 58 million units on an annual basis. Many argue that peer-to-peer file sharing actually stimulates music sales as it offers consumers the opportunity to try music from an artist prior to purchasing an album. Indeed, sites such as Napster and Kazaa have reinvented themselves from illegal file-sharing services to legitimate music providers.

The Internet provides tremendous opportunities to make more music and video available in legal and efficient ways. ISPA believes the music, film and software industries, also known as ‘rights holders’, should continue to embrace the Internet and the opportunities it offers to disseminate their materials efficiently and legally. 

The Internet has been recognised as crucial to jump-starting music careers for artists such as Sandi Thom and the Arctic Monkeys. Gnarls Barkley's song 'Crazy' reached the UK number one spot for nine weeks purely on Internet download sales. The Internet is now demonstrating its potential as a valuable tool in music sales and promotion. 

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Notes to Editors

For further information, please contact the ISPA Press Office. Email: pressoffice@ispa.org.uk Tel: 0207 609 1907

ISPA

The Internet Services Providers’ Association (ISPA) was established in 1995 as a trade association to represent providers of Internet services in the UK. ISPA promotes competition, self-regulation and the development of the Internet industry. For a list of members or other information about ISPA, please consult the website: http://www.ispa.org.uk