HISTORY - In 1999, an 18-year-old college dropout named Shawn Fanning made history and changed the music industry forever with his file-sharing program called Napster. His idea was simple: a program that
![Napster documentary 'Downloaded' retraces legacy of Silicon Valley's most star-crossed startup – The Mercury News Napster documentary 'Downloaded' retraces legacy of Silicon Valley's most star-crossed startup – The Mercury News](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/20130730__0731napster3.jpg?w=600)
Napster documentary 'Downloaded' retraces legacy of Silicon Valley's most star-crossed startup – The Mercury News
![John Fanning on Twitter: "@TPAIN Thanks for thinking of us, let me know where to send your signed copy of @napster #napster original #timemagazine cover. https://t.co/esz7stIYZk" / Twitter John Fanning on Twitter: "@TPAIN Thanks for thinking of us, let me know where to send your signed copy of @napster #napster original #timemagazine cover. https://t.co/esz7stIYZk" / Twitter](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FHywyrZX0AEofxu.jpg:large)
John Fanning on Twitter: "@TPAIN Thanks for thinking of us, let me know where to send your signed copy of @napster #napster original #timemagazine cover. https://t.co/esz7stIYZk" / Twitter
Napster founder Shawn Fanning and Alex Winter during Celebrate The... Foto di attualità - Getty Images
![Shawn Fanning, founder of Napster, listens intently during testimony before a Senate Judiciary committee on Capitol Hill on the future of digital music, July 11. Both Napster and MP3.com have been sued Shawn Fanning, founder of Napster, listens intently during testimony before a Senate Judiciary committee on Capitol Hill on the future of digital music, July 11. Both Napster and MP3.com have been sued](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D5B473/shawn-fanning-founder-of-napster-listens-intently-during-testimony-before-a-senate-judiciary-committee-on-capitol-hill-on-the-future-of-digital-music-july-11-both-napster-and-mp3com-have-been-sued-for-copyright-infringement-by-the-music-recording-industry-2D5B473.jpg)
Shawn Fanning, founder of Napster, listens intently during testimony before a Senate Judiciary committee on Capitol Hill on the future of digital music, July 11. Both Napster and MP3.com have been sued
![Shawn Fanning (USA Napster Gruender) anlaesslich der MTV Video Music Awards in New York PUBLICATIONxI Shawn Fanning (USA Napster Gruender) anlaesslich der MTV Video Music Awards in New York PUBLICATIONxI](https://www.imago-images.com/bild/st/0051640092/w.jpg)