File-sharing

Filesharing is a hot topic. The debate about whether you should be cut off for filesharing raises a lot of interesting issues about access to the Internet and who should control it. This section has lots of information about filesharing, what's legal, why filesharing mightn't be all bad and some statistics on the economics of filesharing.

Related Background Materials

File Sharing
Something from Scribd
IWF: Role and Remit
What is the Role and Remit of the IWF
IWF: Blocking Internet sites
IWF's core function is to provide an internet Hotline for the public to report their accidental exposure to criminal online content within our remit and as the national 'notice and take-down' body for that content so it is quickly removed ....
Can we keep our hands off the net?
A Report of an Inquiry by the All Party Parliamentary Communications Group in October 2009. The All Party Parliamentary Communications Group (apComms) is an independent group of MPs and Lords, from all political parties, which seeks to encourage ...
UK MPs Propose Action to Filter Internet Traffic and Stop Illegal P2P Cut-Offs
The All Party Parliamentary Communications Group (apComms) has published its final report - 'Can we keep our hands off the net?' (.PDF) - following a lengthy inquiry into Internet traffic to assess regulation of UK ISPs
Brits don’t think musicians should be paid
A poll suggests an emergent misanthropic streak in British adults, with only 38 per cent agreeing with the statement that musicians should earn royalties from online transactions.
Norway Will Not Chase File-Sharers
The Norwegian data protection authority has decided that ISPs had to delete all IP address-related data just 3 weeks after collection, a decision that will make difficult to chase file-sharers.
How it feels to be sued for $4.5m
When I contemplate the above sum, I have to remind myself what I'm being charged with. Investment fraud? An attack against the government? No. I shared music. And refused to cave.
A swing to the pirates
In the battle between the music and movie industries and the file-sharers, have we seen a swing to what you might call the Pirate Party? Well yes we have, quite literally, in the case of Sweden, where one member of that country's Pirate Party was elected.
70% oppose internet ban for filesharers, poll shows
Plans to force internet service providers (ISPs) to disconnect suspected illegal downloaders have been roundly rejected in a new YouGov poll, the first time public opinion has been tested on the issue.
Piracy: not the enemy, but the competition
We talk to an anti-piracy professional who says that content producers should stop trying to stifle piracy and concentrate on competing with it better.
Should IP law even exist?
We hear from two economists who think that scrapping copyright and patent law would make the world a more creative and richer place
Tech Weekly: Election special – technology policy debate
Stephen Timms, Jeremy Hunt and Lord Razzall represent Labour, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems in a extended podcast, discussing their technology related policies for the general election.
Pirate Bay Surrenders to Hollywood, interview with co-founder Peter Sunde
(This episode sponsored by WEPC.com) Founders of The Pirate Bay have made a deal to sell off "the world's largest BitTorrent tracker" to a Swedish gaming company for about $7.8 million.
A Fair(y) Use Tale
Professor Eric Faden of Bucknell University provides this humorous, yet informative, review of copyright principles delivered through the words of the very folks we can thank for nearly endless copyright terms.
your copyright can kiss my a$$
Short video outlining the current position on copyright.
File Sharing: Pros and Cons for Independent Artist
Lawrence Lessig is a Professor of Law at Stanford University and chairman of the Creative Commons project. In this http://www.artistshousemusic.org interview, he shares his view on file sharing
Pirate Bay Captain Speaks Out on TV for the first time
One of the most popular online communities - ThePirateBay - is known as one of the Internet's largest file-sharing sites with free music, games and movies available for download
Michael Moore on filesharing
Michael Moore outlines his views on filesharing.
Larry Lessig on laws that choke creativity
Larry Lessig, the Net’s most celebrated lawyer, cites John Philip Sousa, celestial copyrights and the "ASCAP cartel" in his argument for reviving our creative culture
Battle of Ideas: Copyright in a Digital Age
'Does your work getting ripped off make your blood boil?
EU Media Chief about Internet Piracy
EU Media Chief about Internet Piracy
File Sharing
Something from Scribd
Piracy: not the enemy, but the competition
We talk to an anti-piracy professional who says that content producers should stop trying to stifle piracy and concentrate on competing with it better.
IWF: Role and Remit
What is the Role and Remit of the IWF
IWF: Blocking Internet sites
IWF's core function is to provide an internet Hotline for the public to report their accidental exposure to criminal online content within our remit and as the national 'notice and take-down' body for that content so it is quickly removed ....
Can we keep our hands off the net?
A Report of an Inquiry by the All Party Parliamentary Communications Group in October 2009. The All Party Parliamentary Communications Group (apComms) is an independent group of MPs and Lords, from all political parties, which seeks to encourage ...
UK MPs Propose Action to Filter Internet Traffic and Stop Illegal P2P Cut-Offs
The All Party Parliamentary Communications Group (apComms) has published its final report - 'Can we keep our hands off the net?' (.PDF) - following a lengthy inquiry into Internet traffic to assess regulation of UK ISPs
Brits don’t think musicians should be paid
A poll suggests an emergent misanthropic streak in British adults, with only 38 per cent agreeing with the statement that musicians should earn royalties from online transactions.
Norway Will Not Chase File-Sharers
The Norwegian data protection authority has decided that ISPs had to delete all IP address-related data just 3 weeks after collection, a decision that will make difficult to chase file-sharers.
How it feels to be sued for $4.5m
When I contemplate the above sum, I have to remind myself what I'm being charged with. Investment fraud? An attack against the government? No. I shared music. And refused to cave.
70% oppose internet ban for filesharers, poll shows
Plans to force internet service providers (ISPs) to disconnect suspected illegal downloaders have been roundly rejected in a new YouGov poll, the first time public opinion has been tested on the issue.
Should IP law even exist?
We hear from two economists who think that scrapping copyright and patent law would make the world a more creative and richer place
Tech Weekly: Election special – technology policy debate
Stephen Timms, Jeremy Hunt and Lord Razzall represent Labour, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems in a extended podcast, discussing their technology related policies for the general election.
Copyright: Definition
Pirate Bay Surrenders to Hollywood, interview with co-founder Peter Sunde
(This episode sponsored by WEPC.com) Founders of The Pirate Bay have made a deal to sell off "the world's largest BitTorrent tracker" to a Swedish gaming company for about $7.8 million.
A Fair(y) Use Tale
Professor Eric Faden of Bucknell University provides this humorous, yet informative, review of copyright principles delivered through the words of the very folks we can thank for nearly endless copyright terms.
your copyright can kiss my a$$
Short video outlining the current position on copyright.
File Sharing: Pros and Cons for Independent Artist
Lawrence Lessig is a Professor of Law at Stanford University and chairman of the Creative Commons project. In this http://www.artistshousemusic.org interview, he shares his view on file sharing
Pirate Bay Captain Speaks Out on TV for the first time
One of the most popular online communities - ThePirateBay - is known as one of the Internet's largest file-sharing sites with free music, games and movies available for download
Michael Moore on filesharing
Michael Moore outlines his views on filesharing.
Larry Lessig on laws that choke creativity
Larry Lessig, the Net’s most celebrated lawyer, cites John Philip Sousa, celestial copyrights and the "ASCAP cartel" in his argument for reviving our creative culture
Battle of Ideas: Copyright in a Digital Age
'Does your work getting ripped off make your blood boil?
EU Media Chief about Internet Piracy
EU Media Chief about Internet Piracy
A swing to the pirates
In the battle between the music and movie industries and the file-sharers, have we seen a swing to what you might call the Pirate Party? Well yes we have, quite literally, in the case of Sweden, where one member of that country's Pirate Party was elected.