Downloading on the Internet, as a concept and practice, was not created by a single person but evolved over time with contributions from various pioneers in networking and file sharing technologies. However, the first widely popular free digital downloading platform for music on the Internet was Napster, created by Shawn Fanning and Sean Parker in 1999. Napster revolutionized the ability to download and share MP3 files between users, making downloading an easily accessible activity on the Internet. There are also more recent claims and viral stories about individuals like Peter Lenahan who claim to have invented the "download feature" on the Internet, but these claims are unverified and more anecdotal or for entertainment. In summary:
- The foundational method for downloading files on the Internet developed gradually through innovations in network protocols and file-sharing technologies.
- Napster, launched in 1999 by Shawn Fanning and Sean Parker, was the first major platform that popularized and facilitated free downloading on the Internet.
- More mythic or personal claims like those of Peter Lenahan exist but are not historically validated as the invention of downloading itself.
This provides a clear historical context for how downloading on the Internet came to be widely known and practiced.
