History

File  sharing began almost inevitably with the advent of widespread internet usage.  Most associate the beginning of file sharing with  peer-to-peer systems like Napster, a product of Shawn Fanning out of his Northeastern University dorm room in 1999.  While the Napster application was certainly pivotal in making file sharing widespread, it was not the first.  Let’s take a look at the history and evolution of file sharing.

1979

The concept of the internet was still in its infancy in 1979 but Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellisa would change the scene when they introduced USENET.  USENET operates on a model similar to bulletin board system (BBS) where users can read and post public messages to certain categories called newsgroups.  It quickly became a medium of file exchange.  Unlike the more modern peer-to-peer system, the sender rather than the user initiates file transfers.  Not only did USENET become the root of exchanging files on from computer to computer, it popularized internet jargon like “spam” and “FAQ.”

In this article, Google outlines the history of Usenet: http://www.google.com/googlegroups/archive_announce_20.html

1985

In 1985, the modern specification for the file transfer protocol was introduced.  The FTP, as it is most commonly called, operates on client-server architecture where users can exchange and modify files on a TCP/IP based network like the internet.

1988

Jarkko Oikarinen, a student at the University of Finland in 1988, created the Internet Relay Chat.  IRC became one of the first widespread means of internet chat and data transfer.  IRC still exists today and recent statistics reported that in May 2009, the top 100 IRC networks served more than half a million users at a time operating on nearly 1,500 services throughout the world.   The method of file exchange in IRC is called “direct client-to-client (DCC)” where users can initiate transfers through private messages with clients.

1991

The MP3 format standard was finalized making music files more compressed thus more accessible.

1997

A Canadian based company, Hotline Communications Limited introduced software in 1996 that became a more easy to use model of IRC.  The software, Hotline Connect allowed users to connect to a server by typing in its IP address.  Problems within the company led to its collapse in 2003.

1998

MP3.com opened the first web-based offering MP3 downloads by unsigned artists.  It quickly became popular eventually reaching an average of 4 million downloads daily.

Audiogalaxy introduced the peer-to-peer system  where users exchange files directly rather through a client-server model.  Audiogalaxy offered chat-enabled groups and per-artist internet forums.   In 2002, Audiogalaxy rebranded itself under the Rhapsody name as a for-pay music service.

The Digital Millienium Corpyright Act became effective which criminalized the digital dissemination of copyrighted materials.

1999

Shawn Fanning, from his Northeastern University dorm in Boston, Massachusetts, released Napster.   Napster began as a peer-to-peer system allowing users to exchange primarily MP3 files.  The friendly user interface differentiated it from networks like USENET and IRC giving access to a larger non-tech savvy audience.  After pressure from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Napster closed its doors in 2002 after being forced to liquidate its assets under Chapter 7 of the U.S. bankruptcy laws.   It is now owned by Best Buy and operates as a for-pay music service.

2000

Justin Frankel and Tom Pepper of Nullsoft created Gnutella.  It became the first decentralized sharing network.   It is the open protocol used by various clients like Limewire and Morpheus.

eDonkey2000 or ed2k was released by Jed McCaleb.  It was a Windows and Linux peer-to-peer file sharing application.  Users accessed “checksums” of files by using an ed2k link.  After facing legal pressure, ed2k became defunct in 2006.  The network can still be accessed through other clients like eMule, aMule, Shareaza, or MLDonkey.

2001

Napster peaks at 26.4 million users.

Swedish Niklas Zennström and Danish Janus Friis created Kazaa, a peer-to-peer client based on the FastTrack protocol.  Zennström and Friis later went on to create the popular communication platform Skype in 2003.

Morpheus, a peer-to-peer client  released by company Streamcast.  The company is now bankrupt and the website redirects to a site with purchase links for music.

Limewire, a peer-to-peer client based on the Gnutella network available for Windows and Mac released.  As of 2010, Lime Wire LLC is still in operation.

BitTorrent, a peer-to-peer file sharing protocol released.  As of today, the Bit Torrent model makes up for 27-55% of all Internet traffic.  It is one of the most common protocol for transferring large files.

2002

KaZaa’s protocol switch makes Morpheus defunct.

eMule, an eDonkey2000 client, is released and becomes the network’s most popular client.

P2PNet founded by Jon Newton.

Suprnova.org torrent index goes online.  Supernova.org distributed torrents for music and video files as well as computer programs and games.

2003

isoHunt.com torrent index launched by Gary fung.

The Pirate Bay bittorrent tracker launched.

2004

The RIAA files 750 file sharing lawsuits.

Suprnova closes after receiving a cease and desist order by the MPAA.

2005

eDonkey2000 discontinued after receiving cease and desist letter from the RIAA.

2006

Swedish police raid The Pirate Bay.

2007

The Pirate Bay relaunches SuprNova.org

2008

The RIAA claims to have ended its P2P litigation campaign in the United States.  They converted to a three strikes campaign.

2009

The Pirate Bay trial begins.  Defendants sentenced to one year in jail and $3.6 million in fines.

OneSwarm released at the University of Washington.  It is designed to protect the privacy of users when sharing data friend to friend.   It is based on the Azureus BitTorrent client.