Napster was one of the pioneering peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing platforms that emerged in the late 1990s. It was created by Shawn Fanning and Sean Parker. Launched in 1999, Napster allowed users to share and download music, primarily in the MP3 format, from other users’ computers across the internet. It gained rapid popularity because it provided a convenient and free way for people to access a vast library of music.
However, Napster’s rise was accompanied by significant controversy and legal challenges. The platform facilitated copyright infringement on a massive scale, as users were sharing copyrighted music without authorization from record labels and artists. As a result, the music industry, represented by various record companies and artists, filed lawsuits against Napster for copyright infringement.
In 2001, Napster was forced to shut down its music-sharing service as a result of these legal actions. The company eventually filed for bankruptcy and went through various ownership changes.