FACTFILE: What is a peer-to-peer network?

A peer-to-peer network is essentially a group of interconnected computers.
     
One of several available programmes connects the computers to each other.
     
The purpose of most of these networks is to transfer data from computer to computer – computer programmes, images, and audio files.
     
There is also legal, copyright-free material circulating in peer-to-peer networks, such as the Finnish movie Star Wreck, and open source software.
     
The most popular peer-to-peer programme at the moment is BitTorrent.
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 17.2.2006

More on this subject:
 TV programmes are uploaded to the Net instantly after being broadcast
 Movies end up online through a small group of people inside the film industry

Links:
  Peer-to-peer (Wikipedia)
  Star Wreck - In the Pirkinning