May 23, 2002

8:11 PM

Kazaa and related filesharing companies are breathing their last breath[nytimes link, reg required] as legal fees overwhelm the "start up" companies. the riaa again seems to be succeeding in shutting down file sharing companies by simply tying them up in court for so long that their funds dry up. but, as the 2nd generation of filesharing goes the way of napster hope rises in the rumors that the technology behind kazaa and others has been sold.
posted by sixtwenty3dc (8 comments total)

a good start for them, but what can they really do about a ownerless network like gnutella?
posted by Hackworth at 8:36 PM on May 23, 2002

Nothing. (peaceful smile)
posted by swerve at 9:16 PM on May 23, 2002

a good start for them, but what can they really do about a ownerless network like gnutella?

Go after the people actually breaking copyright. Duh.
posted by holloway at 9:25 PM on May 23, 2002

Update their business model. Double dog duh.
posted by Dirjy at 10:17 PM on May 23, 2002

Sign bands that have more than one song. Duh to the max.
posted by spilon at 11:29 PM on May 23, 2002

Not the end duh the world then?
posted by y2karl at 11:59 PM on May 23, 2002

As the article states, Sharman (owners of the KaZaA software as used by the public) has not yet been sued. In fact, litigation against them will be fairly complex as they've moved to a small pacific island. I imagine, however, the Sharman will eventually collapse under the weight of its own unprofitability - the more they try to make money through spyware and advertising, the less people will like them. And with next-gen Gnutella systems (as a Mac user, Gnutella [LimeWire] is still pretty awful), no one will mind switching to the open-source/distributed networks.

The news about the Dutch KaZaA has more implications for companies such as Audiogalaxy - which, we have now seen, it will be fairly easy for the record companies to take down. Migrate now.
posted by Marquis at 5:34 AM on May 24, 2002

rockin'. i totally want to work for an offshore company. i figure that would be bitchin', with the surf and the women and all, plus think of how much money i'd save in taxes (also, see: next to cuba, cheap cigars.).

offshore companys: i have no applicable skills, but i can sometimes manage a small network and i work damn damn damn cheap. also, i will relocate (if necessary, er.)
posted by fishfucker at 11:13 AM on May 24, 2002