Can copyright law and peer-to-peer (P2P) networks coexist? A bitter battle over this question continues to rage years after Napster introduced the world to the phenomenon of file sharing over P2P networks. Napster’s meteoric rise was quickly reversed, however, after the recording industry successfully litigated to shut down the site. But Napster spawned many P2P descendants that are more decentralized in nature and more difficult to shut down as a result. Nonetheless, content providers are again exploring legislative options and litigation strategies to stem what they regard as illegal piracy of copyrighted works. Will it work? Does file sharing really have a detrimental impact on music and movie sales? Can copyright law and affected industries adapt to live with P2P networks, or must file-sharing sites be shut down permanently? This Cato half-day conference will offer a balanced discussion of these questions and the future of copyright law in the post-Napster era.

Agenda

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