The Men Who Stole the World.

PEER-to-peer architecture (Computer networks); PEER-to-peer file sharing; SOCIAL networks; DVD-Video disc reproduction & distribution; JOHANSEN, Jon Lech; FRANKEL, Justin; COHEN, Bram; FANNING, Shawn; AMERICA Online Inc.

The article focuses on computer programmers Jon Lech Johansen, Justin Frankel, Bram Cohen, and Shawn Fanning and how their programs have influenced online media. It states that Fanning wrote the peer-to-peer file sharing program Napster and after failing to create a legitimate file sharing company created Rupture, a social network for gamers. It mentions that Frankel created the computer program WinAmp, which was purchased by internet provider America Online, and a distributed file distribution program called Gnutella. It comments that Cohen co-founded the content-distribution program Bit-Torrent and is working on a peer-to-peer system to stream real-time data. It talks about Johansen's creation of a DVD decryption program and his current program to translate digital media files. INSET: WHAT WE'VE LEARNED.