The Progress & Freedom Foundation, a conservative think-tank based in DC, recently released a new report concerning P2P and copyright: Liability of P2P File-Sharing Systems For Copyright Infringement By Their Users.
Based on the current uses of P2P file-sharing systems, the policy arguments for holding them secondarily liable for the infringements of their users are very strong. These systems are used for legitimate purposes, like distributing public domain works. And they do offer certain advantages in fulfilling such functions. But there are generally alternative means of distributing such works online. And at present, those noninfringing uses are quite small relative to the use of these systems for widespread Internet piracy. This piracy threatens great harm by undermining markets in digital content.
