Has P2P Become a Passing Fad?

Posted by Cliff on Monday September 15, 2003 @09:38AM from the legislation's-true-effect-on-innovation dept.

plasticmillion asks: "As the RIAA launches increasingly rabid attacks against P2P networks and users, pundits continue to debate the future of P2P. On the one hand, some argue that P2P is just a clever way to escape detection from copyright owners, like in this recent Slashdot story. Others, like Clay Shirky, make a strong case that processing is destined to move to the 'edges' of the network. I'm curious to know what Slashdot readers think: is P2P the start of a major new trend that is just getting started, or is it a passing fad that will fade once legal client/server systems for media distribution finally take hold? If the former, which of the supposed advantages of P2P over client/server systems are really significant?"

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P2P vs. IRC by $n1per · 2003-09-15 12:52 · Score: 0, Flamebait

P2P to me tends to be a dumbed down version of IRC, for people who can't seem to use IRC to get the files they want. Anyone can use P2P, even people who don't know exactly what is going on. P2P w/o piracy would be a great way for opensource communities to trade projects and information... and would be _alot_ less popular. People who know what they are doing are staying on IRC to get their files.