Foreword
Every day, millions of Americans connect to the Internet and download music and movies through peer-to-peer file-sharing services. While this activity may seem harmless, if the file contains copyrighted material, downloading it is the equivalent of theft — a violation of Federal law punishable by fines and jail. Although the entertainment industry has pressed charges against a handful of prolific file-swappers, legal action against individuals has failed to stem the tide of copyright abuse. Recording and movie companies have focused their efforts on shutting down file-sharing companies by holding them liable for the copyright infringement of their users.The industry’s first…
