How to use Peer to Peer Software (P2P) Legally - By: Pete Nisbet

It is possible to use peer to peer software, otherwise known as P2P software, legally, even though most people believe file sharing software to be illegal. It is not! What is illegal is to use it the wrong way, so let's expand on that and explain how P2P software should and should not be used.

Before doing that it is important that you understand what file sharing is and how peer to peer software works. Let's assume that you want to download a file. This can be a software file, music file or even a full movie - it doesn’t matter. It could be a game: the principle is the same.

What is P2P File Sharing?

Let's say that Lucy, living 25,000 miles away has that file on her hard disk. If you are registered with a P2P file sharing service, and Lucy is registered with the same service, you can log on to the service and use its search box to search for the file you want. Lucy's file will appear in your result box - but not just Lucy's! If Amy, Mark and Ian also have the same file stored on their hard drives, then their files will also show up.

They will not appear as discretely different result, but as the same result with 4 providers. You can then click to download that file, and packets will be sent to your hard drive from each of the other four until the entire file has been downloaded onto your disk.

There is no intermediary hub: the file packets are sent directly to your hard drive from all the other drives that hold the file you are seeking. You will likely receive a large number of results for any movie or music track, but these are all different versions. Each version that is the same will show as only one result, but with a number beside it that tells you how many other computers have that file on their drive.

Legal or Illegal?

Some artists and musicians, and a few young movie-makers, may decide to offer their work online both to determine how popular the style is or simply to get their name known. In these cases it is not illegal to download the tracks because they are not maintaining the copyright on their work - they want it copied and sent all round the world so they can get their name and their work known.

However, if you find the latest music hit or movie blockbuster in your list, it would be illegal to download that because the copyright is still valid. There are many movies that you can download legally, such as many of the original Disney movies, because they are now outside their copyright period - although that period is being extended due to the greed of the producers.

They forget that Walt Disney made his billions by stealing the work of others - mainly of The Brothers Grimm - because the copyright on their books had expired. However, never mind that. The purpose here is not to gripe about hypocrites, but to explain the law to you.

So, if you have registered with a peer to peer file sharing service, also known as P2P or file sharing, it is possible to download the latest hits or blockbuster movies, but it is illegal to do so. You do that at your own risk.

However, if all you want to do is to share your own work or download material where the copyright has expired, then it is legal to do that. So, it is not the software that enables you to break the law that is at fault, but the people that use it that way.

About the Author

More information on file sharing or P2P Software is available from Pete's website at http://www.online-free-movies.com where you will find such software available, but make sure you use it legally.

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