File-sharing networks remain a chief concern for the major music labels and software makers whose content continues to be copied and distributed online without authorization. Over the past several years, file-sharing technologies and faster broadband networks have spawned new distribution methods and have made copyrighted movies and videos popular targets of online sharing.
In the age of cloud computing and online data storage, cyberlockers have grown in popularity, allowing users to store and share digital files. Although many users employ cyberlockers for lawful purposes, others have used them as a mechanism to view and distribute infringing content. Efforts by copyright owners to remove infringing links and content are often hampered by the speedy replacement of removed content by other users.
