Shawn Fanning

Shawn Fanning (born November 22, 1980) is best known as the creator of Napster, the pioneering peer-to-peer file-sharing internet service, which he developed in 1999. This revolutionary platform allowed users to share and download music files, significantly impacting the music industry. At just 19 years old, Fanning transformed the digital distribution of music, leading to widespread debates on copyright laws. In 2002, Fanning co-founded Snocap, a digital rights and content management company, aiming to provide a legal framework for online music distribution. Additionally, he played a key role in the development of Rupture, a social network for gamers, which was acquired by Electronic Arts in 2008. These ventures underscore Fanning's contributions to both the tech and entertainment industries.