The legal issues in file sharing involve violation of copyright laws as digital copies of copyrighted materials are transferred between users.
The application of national copyright laws to peer-to-peer and file sharing networks is of global significance. Peer-to-peer ("P2P") technology allows people worldwide to share files and data, and since this includes some that is subject to copyright, it has been targeted by rights holders, although peer-to-peer networks can be used for legitimate purposes.
The following are the general cyber-law violations by file sharing
- Ambiguities in the interpretation of copyright law
- The new challenges posed by international communications and varying legislations
- Mass litigation and the development of processes for evidence and discovery
- Rapidly developing new technologies and uses, including file hosting sites
- Low barriers to entry by would-be sharers and the development of a mass usage of the technologies
- File sharing approaches developed in response to litigation against sharers, which obfuscate or hide the fact that sharing is happening, or the identities of those involved. For example: encryption and Darknets.