Gnutella, et al. Because of these things, Gnutella has as yet unsurpassed potential for free exchange of information. Gnutella can not be blocked by the traditional means used against Napster. Each user is connected to other users, who in turn pass along the other hosts on the network. It is far more versatile than Napster, since it can transfer .zip, .mpeg, .asf, .mov, .qt, .hqx, .exe, .jar, .sit, or any other type of file users put online.
Every user is both a host and a client.
Because of this, it is near impossible for ISPs, lawyers, governments, or hackers to disable the network. There are no passwords, no fees, and no rules. Each client can share files, search for files, and download files from any other user. The letter of copyright law, as it is currently written, is becoming irrelevant in practical terms. Recording companies and publishers are never, ever, going to be able to regain the tight, top-down control they once had over copying and distribution of intellectual property, no matter how many lawsuits they launch.