Definitions
Below you’ll find definitions for a number of terms used on this website about file sharing and copyright infringement.
File sharing
Digital files sent and received over a network, usually following the peer-to-peer model (files are stored on and served by the personal computers of the users of the peer-to-peer network).
Peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing
A model of file sharing where the files are stored on and served by the personal computers of the network users. Most people using a peer-to-peer network both provide (upload) and receive (download) files. The user connects to the peer-to-peer network using a program called a client. KaZaA, LimeWire, eMule, Direct Connect, Entropy, BearShare, Morpheus, and Napster are all examples of peer-to-peer file sharing clients.
DMCA
The Digital Millenium Copyright Act of 1998 [pdf] is a 1998 U.S. law intended to update copyright law for electronic commerce and electronic content providers. It criminalizes the circumvention of electronic and digital copyright protection systems (commonly known as DRM) that control access to copyrighted works. The DMCA also heightens the penalties for copyright infringement on the Internet.
DRM
Digital Rights Management refers to access control technologies used by hardware manufacturers, publishers and copyright holders to limit the use of digital media or devices. For more information, read A User’s Guide to DRM in Online Music [Electronic Frontier Foundation] and DRM.info.
Public Domain
The public domain refers to intellectual property (anything created by the mind — music, literature, inventions, art, symbols, and images) that is not owned or controlled by anyone. These materials are in effect “public property,” and may be used by anyone for any purpose. The public domain is most often discussed in contrast to work that is copyrighted.
RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America http://www.riaa.com
MPAA
Motion Picture Association of America http://www.mpaa.org