A petition filed by Internet scholars yesterday, asks the FCC to investigate allegations that Comcast violated principles of net neutrality, blocking P2P file sharing software.

Every day, more and more people join online communities, such as MySpace, FaceBook, and Second Life, and use file sharing systems like BitTorrent. In these virtual spaces they can reinvent themselves, make new friends, and share information and resources with others. Understanding how people give and receive digital gifts online is key to understanding the successes and failures of these communities.