The United States of America is a free country, so why shouldn't the Internet be free? Why should we place restrictions on what we can and cannot do on the Internet? Every day millions of users share files on the Internet through numerous online sources. Whether downloading music, movies, or software, online file sharing can give people access to a wealth of information. These files are often free and easily accessible by anyone. The practice of distributing or providing access to digitally stored information represents file sharing (peer-to-peer file sharing and copyright infringement: are you vulnerable?). On the contrary, many people consider file sharing to be illegal. The reproduction or distribution of any digital media or copyrighted information defines Internet piracy. Many people consider it illegal to download copyrighted files such as music, movies, books and software. Music files, some of the first file types to be played and distributed via Internet sources, contain the .mp3 file extension. In the 1990s, several popular file-sharing programs were developed that facilitated Internet piracy. Big industries try to fight file sharing to increase their revenue, however Internet piracy actually increases industries revenue and has numerous other benefits (What is Internet Piracy?). The copying and distribution of digital files has increased thanks to technology (Torr). Internet piracy, considered a worldwide problem, is difficult to stop along with other types of piracy (What is Internet Piracy?). Everything can be digitized and once digitized it will be shared on the Internet (Torr). Canadian and European laws allow downloading of copyrighted files for personal use...... middle of paper ......Vulnerable?" Peer-to-peer file sharing and copyright infringement. Np, nd Web. 31 Mar. 2014. “Pros and Cons of File Sharing and Online Piracy.” Science, nd Web. 06 Mar. 2014. Torr, James D. Internet Piracy: Greenhaven/Thomson Gale, 2005. Print.Washington Post . The Washington Post, September 29, 2006. Web. March 13, 2014. “What is Internet Piracy?” WiseGEEK, n.d. Web. March 7, 2014. “4 Ways Internet Piracy Can Be a Good Thing.” . Np, nd Web. 2 Apr. 2014. “Study Shows Online Piracy Is Good for Entertainment,” Developer Says WebProNews. Forbes Magazine, 19 Mar. 2013. Web. 14 Apr. 2014. “Online Piracy” RSS, nd Web 23 April 2014. Robbert Van Ooijen. hypebot' Np, nd Web, 23 April. 2014.