Editing Copynorms (section)

=== P2P impact ===
In the late 1990s and early in the 2000s, [[peer-to-peer filesharing]] over the [[Internet]] became increasingly popular.  The first P2P program to receive widespread attention in the media and popular consciousness was [[Napster]].  Napster was shut down by an injunction issued by the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of California]], which resulted in a variety of other P2P programs ([[Gnutella]], [[Bearshare]], [[Kazaa]], etc.) gaining popularity.  Another significant use of P2P programs is the distribution of MP3 files created by ripping copyrighted music from commercial [[Compact disc|CDs]].  The use of P2P to distribute digital copies of [[Digital Versatile Disc|DVD]] has also grown in popularity.

There is considerable controversy over the application of the copyright laws to individual, noncommercial use of P2P programs to distribute MP3 files, but judicial opinion, so far, has sided with the music industry and held that an individual who copies and distributes an MP3 file containing copyrighted music violates federal copyright law.  Nonetheless, the use of P2P to share and download copyrighted music is generally considered socially acceptable.  Survey research supports this conclusion{{Citation needed|date=October 2007}}, as does the popularity of P2P programs.