P2P

File sharing is public or private sharing of data on a network. P2P file sharing is similar, but you can also share music, movies, books etc.  P2P means peer to peer. However, the downside of P2P sharing is that people share unauthorized materials which is also call pirating.  For example, in the article, "Digital Pirates Winning Battle with Studios", discusses how movies and shows being made available to the public via the internet actually represents a loss to the studio who makes the movie or show.  Instead of watching the movie in the theaters or on television, people will watch it on the internet instead.  This causes the studios to lose money.  "Media companies say that piracy — some prefer to call it “digital theft” to emphasize the criminal nature of the act — is an increasingly mainstream pursuit. At the same time, DVD sales, a huge source of revenue for film studios, are sagging. In 2008, DVD shipments dropped to their lowest levels in five years. Executives worry that the economic downturn will persuade more users to watch stolen shows and movies" (Shelter and Stone).