A&M Records, Inc. v. Napster, Inc. is a landmark case in which the enforcement of intellectual property laws has forever impacted contemporary culture with respect to digital works. The legal issues presented in this case resulted in a court decision that set a precedent that influenced the manner and means of distributing digital works. The consequences of Napster affect both businesses and individuals. Napster, a free online file sharing network, allowed peers to share digital files directly with each other through connections through its software and system. Free peer-to-peer sharing has gained popularity, especially with trending music. A&M Records became aware of all the free digital music downloads and filed suit against Napster for direct, contributory, and indirect copyright infringement (Washington University School of Law, 2013). First, it is important to discuss the direct, contributory, and indirect infringement claims against Napster. Direct copyright infringement claims are based on a violation of the copyright owners' exclusive rights in the copyrighted works. A&M Records, Inc. v. Napster, Inc., 239 F.3d 1004, 1013 (9th Cir. 2001). Napster was found responsible for this because users used its platform to upload and download copyrighted music, thereby violating ID 1013-1014. Fair use is a limitation on the exclusive rights of a copyright owner, as well as a defense against infringement. It states that activities that would normally constitute infringement are not used "for any purpose such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship or research. 17 USC § 107. There are four factors to consider when applying this