Napsters

Napsters refers to the users of the Napster peer-to-peer file sharing platform and, more broadly, to the brand that the service became during its early and later incarnations. Launched in 1999 by Shawn Fanning (and others), Napster operated as a centralized index that allowed users to search for and transfer MP3 files directly between computers. The service rapidly gained popularity, especially among college students, as a convenient way to share music outside traditional distribution channels. The model popularized peer-to-peer file sharing and disrupted the traditional music industry by enabling widespread, low-cost access to copyrighted songs without direct licensing.

Legal challenges followed. In 2000–2001 several major record labels sued Napster for copyright infringement, and a court ordered Napster to shut down in 2001. The company later changed hands; the Napster brand was acquired and repurposed as a legitimate digital music service. It relaunched in various forms over the years as a subscription and streaming platform, distinct from the original free-file-sharing network.

Napsters and the Napster case had a lasting impact on the music business and digital culture. It highlighted the tension between consumer access and copyright, influenced later streaming business models, and contributed to the growth of licensed music services. The name Napster remains associated with both the early P2P era and the later branded music service, which continues to operate in different markets under various ownerships.