Crucially Napster has pioneered a file sharing system that allows anyone to locate an MP3 file on another users hard drive and download it onto their computer.

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Similarly, P2Pnet.net, another online news site in British Columbia, is facing a lawsuit ironically filed by Sharman Networks, the company behind the Kazaa file-sharing system, that itself has been dragged through the courts in Australia.

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Police raids on the offices of Megaupload and home of founder Kim Dotcom led to the closure of the file-saving and sharing system.

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Of course, Apple offers its own texting, file-sharing and video system that helps consumers to avoid SMS charges when they communicate with other iPhone owners.

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Initially the system will allow file-sharing with Sony's PSP games console, Nokia's N-series mobile, Sony Ericsson's Walkman and Cybershot handsets and Microsoft's Windows Mobile smartphones.

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Kang pointed out that Genachowski was dealt a setback when a court decision last April supported Comcast's ability to manage a notorious file-sharing application called BitTorrent that was slowing down the system.

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Since April, Verizon has been testing a version of the researchers' P4P system implemented by the New York-based file-sharing start-up, Pando.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Since April, Verizon (nyse: VZ - news - people ) has been testing a version of the researchers' P4P system implemented by the New York-based file-sharing start-up, Pando.

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