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Shawn Fanning, a freshman in college, launched Napster in the beginning of 1999.Napster allows Internet users to share and download MP3 (music) files directly from any computer connected to the Napster network, which could be hundreds of thousands of people.You can use Napster by downloading the software from the Internet site, and then connecting to the network using this software, which allows the sharing of all your MP3 files with anyone else on the network.Unlike many other file sharing networks, Napster limits their users to only download MP3 files.The advantage of these files are that they can be very close to CD quality and are one-tenth the size of a wave file.This is the main reason that many artists and record labels are concerned with the MP3 file format and programs like Napster that makes it very easy to share copyrighted material.The fact that Napster is free and more convenient than going to the store makes it an appealing way to get music for consumers.The problem that record companies have is that there is no way of regulating who has access to this information, which means they have no way of making any profit.Since people can now download free music, and artists can release their music themselves, it gives recor