在Napster文件共享程序开发出来之前，像卡内基·梅隆大学的洛丽·费思·科拉娜这样的大学生制订出了潜在的新网络形式，并为之准备了像“Publius”这样高贵的名字。 通过这种新网络，不受欢迎的观点能够摆脱政府的控制传播开来。
Along with the enterprising teenagers who built Napster, academics like Lorrie Faith Cranor at Carnegie Mellon mapped out the shape of potential new networks with lofty names like “Publius,” through which unpopular views could be circulated outside of easy governmental control.