Scavenger Hunt Activity: Peer-to-peer file sharing.
Answer Key: Listed below are the answers to the Scavenger Hunt questions along with the website(s) where that information is available. In cases where more than one website is listed for a single question, the answer was synthesized from the information available on those sites.
- What is P2P file sharing, and how is it different from the traditional client-server file sharing? P2P file sharing is best understood by comparing it to the traditional client-server file sharing. With the client-server model, some computers are dedicated to the task of serving the others. This includes hosting the file on the server and providing the upstream connection bandwidth necessary for others to download it. The P2P model instead shifts the bandwidth burden to users by making them transfer the information to and from each other. This is extremely efficient because it takes advantage of the collective bandwidth capacity of all connected individuals.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_sharing
- Which first generation P2P file sharing program’s name references both a piece of metal and fruit? Limewire.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_sharing
- What is the most significant difference between first generation P2P file sharing programs and subsequent generation programs? The first generation programs require the creation of an account on a centralized server - the server then keeps track of exactly who is connected at any given time and precisely what information they have to share. Later generation programs have no central index server, instead shifting that responsibility to the individuals that are connected.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_sharing
- Which first generation P2P file sharing program was sued by A&M records with the support of rock band Metallica? What was the basis of the lawsuit? Napster. The lawsuit alleged that Napster encouraged piracy by enabling users to trade copyrighted songs through its servers. After struggling unsuccessfully to put measures in place that would prevent users from sharing copyrighted material, Napster was shut down and then reopened as a legitimate pay-for-music site.
http://www.wired.com
http://www.copyright.gov/docs/mgm/computersci_profs.pdf
- What is BitTorrent, and who invented it? BitTorrent is a fourth generation P2P file sharing protocol, meaning that it uses ‘swarming’ technology to enable users to share information with each other. Programmer Braham Cohen was responsible for creating BitTorrent in 2001.
http://compnetworking.about.com
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://www.theregister.co.uk
- What is a Torrent Tracker? A torrent tracker is a P2P connection manager. It is typically a website-based search engine that keeps track of the location of files that are being transferred using the BitTorrent protocol. Because there is no central server to index the files (which is how previous generation P2P applications operated), it is impossible to search the entire ‘realm’ of BitTorrent. Instead users must rely on decentralized, third party websites to find and join a ‘swarm’ of other users that are downloading and sharing a given file.
http://www.copyright.gov/docs/mgm/computersci_profs.pdf
http://compnetworking.about.com
- When you are transferring information using BitTorrent, do you have the benefit of anonymity? Why or why not? No. Because you are sharing directly with other users, your IP address is visible at all times to all users currently participating in the swarm.
http://www.copyright.gov/docs/mgm/computersci_profs.pdf
- Is it illegal to share copyrighted material via BitTorrent? What are the means by which copyright holders can pursue legal action in cases of BitTorrent P2P copyright violation? Yes. In the United States, it is illegal to participate in a BitTorrent swarm that is sharing copyrighted material. Unfortunately, it is very difficult for copyright holders to prosecute those running the Torrent Trackers. Because Trackers are website-based, they can be operated anywhere in the world and are typically found in countries where there are no legal consequences for such action (two of the most popular locations are Canada and Switzerland). The only remaining option for copyright holders is to attempt to identify and prosecute individual participants in a BitTorrent swarm. This can be accomplished by joining the swarm, identifying the IP address of an individual, and then pursuing legal action with the cooperation of the Internet Service Provider.
http://www.copyright.gov/docs/mgm/computersci_profs.pdf
http://answers.yahoo.com
- Is BitTorrent used for legitimate purposes? What are they? Yes. BitTorrent enables both commercial and noncommercial content creators to distribute massive amounts of information at less than 1% the bandwidth cost of the traditional server-client model. This makes possible a sort of "free speech" that otherwise could not economically exist. Some common examples include the distribution of open-source software and the publishing of audio/video content. Some well known commercial applications such as World of Warcraft also take advantage of BitTorrent technology.
http://www.copyright.gov/docs/mgm/creative-commons.pdf
http://staff.washington.edu/oren/weblog2/archives/2007/10/legitimate_uses.html
- What percentage of total internet traffic is attributed to BitTorrent? BitTorrent protocol traffic is estimated to constitute 35% or more of all internet traffic.
http://www.copyright.gov/docs/mgm/innovation-econ.pdf