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KaZaA Wants to Be An Official Content Distributor 329

Posted by timothy from the open-up dept.
scubacuda writes "Detroit News: Nikki Hemming, CEO of KaZaA, says KaZaA wants to be the official online distributor for the entertainment industry. 'Realize that this technology is inexorable, and come to the table,' says Hemming to our friends Hilary Rosen and Jack Valenti."
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KaZaA Wants to Be An Official Content Distributor More

KaZaA Wants to Be An Official Content Distributor

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  • for a fee. (Score:5, Interesting)

    by loveandpeace ( 520766 ) * on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:36PM (#6290550) Homepage Journal

    "When users want one, they pay a royalty fee. If they want to share files, the system forces the next person who wants to get it to also pay the fee. '

    so this is really where KaZaa 'comes to the table' and joins the establishment.

    • ISP contracts (Score:5, Interesting)

      by retto ( 668183 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @09:10PM (#6290786)

      If Kazaa plans on making money from using other people's bandwidth, isn't that going to be in violation of some ISP's service agreements? I know my ISP prohibts "commercial" use, so if I share files and for which I am paid in some form, wouldn't that in violation of that agreement?

      Granted, they don't seem to mind p2p right now unless they get a notice from the RIAA/MPAA, but if Kazaa goes legit I could see them demanding a piece of the pie too.

      • Re:ISP contracts (Score:4, Insightful)

        by timeOday ( 582209 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @10:11PM (#6291129)
        If Kazaa plans on making money from using other people's bandwidth, isn't that going to be in violation of some ISP's service agreements? I know my ISP prohibts "commercial" use, so if I share files and for which I am paid in some form, wouldn't that in violation of that agreement?
        Uhh, somehow I don't you're the one who's going to get paid.
        Granted, they don't seem to mind p2p right now unless they get a notice from the RIAA/MPAA, but if Kazaa goes legit I could see them demanding a piece of the pie too.
        Yes, the wouldn't propose this if there were nothing in it for them. But that's no more a "commercial" use of the service than buying something on ebay.

        • Re:ISP contracts (Score:3, Insightful)

          by Jellybob ( 597204 )
          Uhh, somehow I don't you're the one who's going to get paid.


          Well there sure as hell not going to use my bandwidth to make money from other people *without* paying me.

          • Re:ISP contracts (Score:4, Informative)

            by Ramze ( 640788 ) on Wednesday June 25, 2003 @07:38AM (#6292874)
            Their latest Kazaa 2.5 gives you "points" for hosting files which you can then use to "buy" certain songs or video clips or use to enter into contests (so many points = one entry to the sweepstakes, I guess). You get the short end of the stick either way as it takes thousands of points to buy a song & you can only buy from a crappy selection at the moment. Also, I'm sure the odds of winning contests aren't that great. Oh, also you only get points if someone actually downloads one of their paid hosted files from your machine -- not just the fact that you're hosting it.

            I think I'll stick to Kazaa Lite & switch to WinMX or eDonkey2000 if they keep up this kinda crap. I d/l the latest version of Kazaa and it has more ads and adware than ever! Ugh!

      • Re:ISP contracts (Score:5, Insightful)

        by EpsCylonB ( 307640 ) <.moc.bnolycspe. .ta. .spe.> on Wednesday June 25, 2003 @05:06AM (#6292464) Homepage
        If the entertainment industry gives the green light to online media distribution via p2p then how long will it be before AOL has a p2p client built into their existing proprietry software ?. I think it's very possible that if the p2p develpers don't start making strong contacts with the biggest ISP's then they could be forced out of the market that they created.

        It is the bandwidth with makes p2p work, which gives the ISP's the power. The concept of p2p is now well understood and it would be easy for any large ISP to develop their own p2p software. Best case scenario is that the ISP's recongise the need for interoperability and get together to create an open standard.

    • No. (Score:4, Insightful)

      by BoomerSooner ( 308737 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @09:22PM (#6290853) Homepage Journal
      This is where the entertainment industry tells them to go fly a kite.

      I guess next bank robbers will be getting jobs delivering money to banks.

      Kazaa can burn in hell.
    • If this guy [slashdot.org] is right, the establishmet robs you, again!

      Kazaa is already an official distributor of viruses so sure, why not. When users want one, they pay a royalty fee. If they want to share files, the system forces the next person who wants to get it to also pay the fee.

      Is this the best security/virus profit center ever or what? You trust that thing to bill you? Ha!

    • Re:for a fee. (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Lord Kano ( 13027 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @10:30PM (#6291253) Homepage Journal
      "When users want one, they pay a royalty fee. If they want to share files, the system forces the next person who wants to get it to also pay the fee. '

      So you use your computer and bandwidth and kazaa gets to take a little slice of what the MPAA/RIAA charges you?

      With all due respect WHAT THE FUCK ARE THESE IDIOTS THINKING? If someone has to pay to download, there is no compelling reason to share that file when finished.

      When it's free (and illegal) there is a sense of community, giving something back to that community is a big reason why people rip and share these things.

      When it is legal and no longer free (as in beer) the attitudes will change and kazaa will die.

      LK

    • Re:for a fee. (Score:3, Interesting)

      by whereiswaldo ( 459052 )
      As soon as I read the headline, I thought of AudioGalaxy. I hope Kazaa doesn't go the same way (IOW right down the crapper).

    • Profit! (Score:4, Funny)

      by Atario ( 673917 ) on Wednesday June 25, 2003 @12:10AM (#6291672) Homepage
      1. Establish P2P service.
      2. Get popular by telling (optional: "pretending to tell") the RIAA to "cram it sideways with walnuts, ugly".
      3. Go corporate and get in bed with RIAA.
      4. Profit!

    • Re:for a fee. (Score:5, Funny)

      by g00z ( 81380 ) on Wednesday June 25, 2003 @01:55AM (#6292025) Homepage
      RIAA/MPAA to KaZaa:

      Wow. That sounds like a really good deal. I've got a better one. How about I give you the finger, and you give me the unique IP of all your users?

  • Gotta keep running those servers (Score:4, Interesting)

    by ObviousGuy ( 578567 ) <ObviousGuy@hotmail.com> on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:37PM (#6290556) Homepage Journal
    Advertising can only take you so far. At some point you've got to sell your soul and talk to the bigwigs.

    What kind of safeguards are going to need to be put in place to make sure that content isn't simply distributed to the ends of the earth like it is now? Un-bypassable commercials?

  • I can see it now... (Score:4, Funny)

    by MP3Chuck ( 652277 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:39PM (#6290576) Homepage Journal
    Paid downlaods and pirated versions of the same song, side by side...

  • Do your part to improve /.'s English today! (Score:3, Informative)

    by markov_chain ( 202465 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:40PM (#6290582)

    inexorable

    \In*ex"o*ra*ble\, a. [L. inexorabilis: cf. F. inexorable. See In- not, and Exorable, Adore.] Not to be persuaded or moved by entreaty or prayer; firm; determined; unyielding; unchangeable; inflexible; relentless; as, an inexorable prince or tyrant; an inexorable judge. ``Inexorable equality of laws.'' --Gibbon. ``Death's inexorable doom.'' --Dryden.

    (courtesy dictionary.com)

  • Hell will become a vacation resort first (Score:5, Insightful)

    by DesScorp ( 410532 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:42PM (#6290595) Journal
    Kazaa has basically made it's reputation spitting in the face of media companies. Their attitude to the RIAA and the US Government has been one of defiance, and frankly, arrogance from the very start.

    Record labels will build their own online distribution points. Most of them are quite committed to the day Kazaa ceases to exist. If THIS was the strategy of Sharman Networks from the beginning, it was ill-concieved at best, and idiotic at worst. You don't piss in the face of competitors, laugh at them for it, and then expect them to actually WORK with you.

    • Re:Hell will become a vacation resort first (Score:5, Funny)

      by Niadh ( 468443 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:50PM (#6290664) Homepage
      You don't piss in the face of competitors, laugh at them for it, and then expect them to actually WORK with you.

      Unless you're Microsoft.
    • They've managed to get kazaa installed on millions of desktops worldwide. By now, TB's of personal storage space are full of "evidence".

      Why don't they use this mind/marketshare to blackmail ability folks into buying what they've been stealing,

      why can't they be a subsidiary or offshoot of the recording industry. The riaa didn't get this big by being stupid over the years.

      If not then the next generation of p2p will.

      I know i'm paranoid, it's a lifestyle choice

    • Re:Hell will become a vacation resort first (Score:5, Funny)

      by TopShelf ( 92521 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @09:06PM (#6290762) Homepage Journal
      and besides, an interview is such a poor way of making the announcement. Far better to walk out onto your balcony, look down on your hordes of Uruk-Hai, and proclaim, "a New Power is Rising..."

    • Yeah, I saw the story and, immediately, three little words sprung into my head:

      AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN

      Seriously, to RIAA/MPAA/the powers that be this is about as likely as handing over the running of the DEA to drugs barons. Any business leader or politician that openly advocated this KaZaA's plan would be committing career suicide.

      I'm sure that, eventually, movie studios will embrace online distribution but when that day comes it won't be brought to you by KazaA.

    • Oh, they have a lot in common. (Score:5, Funny)

      by gad_zuki! ( 70830 ) * on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @10:00PM (#6291062)
      > Kazaa has basically made it's reputation spitting in the face of media companies.

      Perhaps, but they also share a complete disdain of anything that gets in the way of profits. I doubt kazaa would have any problems pushing the most draconian DRM app in their newest update. I can picture the hypothetical conversation right now...

      "Okay, so we agree. Kazaa gets .001% of the profits and if the user downloads anything but approved RIAA content we do a pop-up warning. After the second warning we wipe their drive. Deal?"

      "Umm, can't you do a little better?"

      "Okay before we wipe the drive we'll do 20 wipes on their My Documents folder and media files so they can't recover them."

      "I like, but its missing something..."

      "It'll post their SSN and any personal info we find during install to a newsgroup too."

      "And send a 'I quit letter' to their boss and a 'You were never a good mother' email to their mom?"

      "Deal. No one reads these EULAs anyway."
    • Not to mention that the millions of users are only there because they can get stuff for free. When it becomes a pay service it will do no better than Napster did as one.

      I'm sure the record/movie companies are smart enough to realize this.

  • Distributing Television (Score:4, Interesting)

    by sharlskdy ( 460886 ) <.ten.sulet. .ta. .namttocs.> on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:42PM (#6290596) Homepage
    Personally, I think a tool like Kazaa would be perfect for a TV network to distribute programming. They could seed next week's episode of whatever into the network and allow it to be distributed to those who want to receive it. Use DRM to expire content after a week after you first play it if you want, but this would allow me to retrieve a program and then watch it at my convenience.

    (I'd prefer a TivO, but they're not in Canada, yet...)

    Wouldn't it be something if a network actually embraced Kazaa? .... oh shoot... I just dropped my rose-colored glasses... nevermind...

    • Re:Distributing Television (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Eric_Cartman_South_P ( 594330 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @10:13PM (#6291143)
      Use DRM to expire content after a week after you first play it if you want, but this would allow me to retrieve a program and then watch it at my convenience.

      I mean this most kindly, but in regards to what television is all about, I think you're missing the point.

      The consumers are the little pigs that love to eat. And having "prime time" television and "late night" television et. al. you can easily seperate the little piggies into little groups. Young little pigs watch shows early on saturday morning. Sell advertising to some sugar-pumping cereal company. Middle age and older male piggies stay up later, and you can sell advertising space during late night shows for Trojan Condoms and Ford Pick-Up Trucks. Of course, lonely/unemployed/gold-digger pigglets watch soap operas during the weedkay, so you sell advertising space to Tampax and Slim Fast. Drink up little pigglets!

      Throw a TiVo into the mix, and all the little pigs mix, and you don't know who is doing what and when! And the farm makes much less money.

  • In continuation.... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by ewhenn ( 647989 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:45PM (#6290621)
    'Realize that this technology is inexorable, and come to the table,' says Hemming to our friends Hilary Rosen and Jack Valenti."

    Continuation of blurb above... "'Realize that this technology is inexorable, and come to the table. Just make sure your pants are at your ankles when you are bent over the table signing the deal because either way you are taking it in the ass, at least when you get *pumped* by me you get a little money"

  • I predict (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:45PM (#6290626)
    I predict that if this happens, the FastTrack protocol will be modified and used within a 'Kazaa-lite 2' P2P network (I can see some areas where it can use improvement, too).

    The Kazaa people might have a monoply on Kazaa now... but it won't last if they do this (because obviously they're going to have to add some sort of DRM or other limits to the P2P network so that it's profitable).

  • Official Distributor of Viruses (Score:5, Funny)

    by Octagon Most ( 522688 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:46PM (#6290628)
    Kazaa is already an official distributor of viruses so sure, why not. I have become quite intimate with my Registry since installing Kazaa (and not in a good way). It's enough to make a guy go legit!

  • Yes, KaZaA are friends of the RIAA... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Steven Reddie ( 237450 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:46PM (#6290629)
    not of the end user. They have been actively trying to get their software onto machines without the users' knowledge.

    And, do they not realise the Hillary Rosen stepped down from the RIAA? Keep up.

  • Nice try, but... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by ablair ( 318858 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:47PM (#6290631)
    This will never work. The credibility of this service now could not be worse with the RIAA et al, they would never agree to sell their content on Kazaa. Especially since the Kazaa model would give them very little control over their own content, they'd never go for it. Presumably Hemming knows this (I can't imagine her being naive enough not to), I wonder if she is just taking the opportunity to try and goad Rosen and Valenti...

    • Re:Nice try, but... (Score:2, Insightful)

      by qorkfiend ( 550713 )
      I disagree. Entering into a partnership with Kazaa could only benefit the RIAA. They will have an in-place, widespread distribution network (though the number of subscribers will drop precipitously) and it will remove Kazaa from the list of p2p network software that facilitates piracy. The RIAA won't have to deal with any more legislation with Kazaa. The RIAA doesn't want control over their content, they want the money that piracy denies them - which is what this deal would give them.
    • It really is something that is beyond the RIAA and MPAA. The do not represent the Artist, the customer or the content... They only represent the missed oppertunity. I think this is oddly enough the only real saviour for them (not the commercial music or film industry mind you, just the current distribution market.) Sign the deal with the devil because technology is a bitch goddess... She may have given birth to your industry but she only likes her new creations.

  • Good Idea... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by oaf357 ( 661305 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:47PM (#6290633) Homepage Journal
    This is a great idea that KaZaA has been trying to implement for quite some time now. However, after seeing musicians challenge Apple to force selling of entire albums as opposed to just songs it's almost clear that the RIAA isn't willing to do away with its current business model to stop copyright violations. The RIAA wants everyone else to change but won't think about changing themselves.

    • Re:Good Idea... (Score:2, Insightful)

      by qorkfiend ( 550713 )
      The RIAA doesn't care about the artists. They want the money that comes from the royalties. And, they'll do whatever it takes to get that.
    • they have been trying to implement this for some time to present themselves as a legitamite company while they continue to make a fortune selling adds and information about the happless fools using their pirating-ready product. Use KazaaLite instead, that way you screw over the music industry and shamman.

  • Karn Evil 9 First Impression, ELP predict's KaZaa! (Score:3, Funny)

    by jerryasher ( 151512 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:48PM (#6290639)
    For some reason, reading this, Realize that this technology is inexorable, and come to the table,' says Hemming to our friends Hilary Rosen and Jack Valenti.", immediately made me think of ELP's, Brain Salad Surgery. If this isn't a 70's rock and roll prediction of KaZaa and the Net, I don't know what could be....


    . . .
    Step inside! Hello! We've the most amazing show
    You'll enjoy it all we know
    Step inside! Step Inside!

    We've got thrills and shocks, supersonic fighting cocks.
    Leave your hammers at the box
    Come Inside! Come Inside!
    Roll up! Roll up! Roll up!
    See the show!

    Left behind the bars, rows of Bishops' heads in jars
    and a bomb inside a car
    Spectacular! Spectacular!

    If you follow me there's a speciality
    some tears for you to see
    Misery, misery,
    Roll up! Roll up! Roll up!
    See the show!

    Next upon the bill in our House of Vaudeville
    We've a stripper in a till
    What a thrill! What a thrill!
    And not content with that, with our hands behind our backs,
    We pull Jesus from a hat,
    Get into that! Get into that!
    Roll up! Roll up! Roll up!
    See the show!

    Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends
    We're so glad you could attend
    Come inside! Come inside!
    There behind a glass is a real blade of grass
    be careful as you pass.
    Move along! Move along!

    Come inside, the show's about to start
    guaranteed to blow your head apart
    Rest assured you'll get your money's worth
    The greatest show in Heaven, Hell or Earth.
    You've got to see the show, it's a dynamo.
    You've got to see the show, it's rock and roll ....

    Soon the Gypsy Queen in a glaze of Vaseline
    Will perform on guillotine
    What a scene! What a scene!
    Next upon the stand will you please extend a hand
    to Alexander's Ragtime Band
    Roll up! Roll up! Roll up!
    See the show!

    Performing on a stool we've a sight to make you drool
    Seven virgins and a mule
    Keep it cool. Keep it cool.
    We would like it to be known the exhibits that were shown
    were exclusively our own,
    All our own. All our own.
    Come and see the show! Come and see the show! Come and see the show!
    See the show!

  • The Ballad of Hilary and Jack (Score:5, Funny)

    by edashofy ( 265252 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:48PM (#6290642)
    Hilary: Hey, Jack, did you get that email from the Kazaa guys?
    Jack: Yeah, what about it?
    Hilary: Is that something we should consider doing?
    Jack: Did I miss Hell freezing over or something?
    Hilary: No, no, I'm just fucking with you :)
    Jack: Phew, I thought you were serious there for a minute. Don't do that!

  • Eww (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Jack Comics ( 631233 ) * <jack_comics @ p o s t x s .org> on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:48PM (#6290644) Homepage
    Personally, I wouldn't touch anything that has the word "Kazaa" in it with a ten foot pole. Best to stay far away from that advertisement & spyware-ridden beast. Advertisements I can deal with. Spyware on the other hand is intolerable.
  • While this statement might seem like anathema, I believe that distribution of the latest games through P2P content is a great way to "push" new games as they come about, rather than having to wait for physical media to be manufactured, or strain a single download server.

    With increasing number of game consoles connected to the net via broadband connections, I believe the revolution that must be grasped is the fact that games will be online already. Therefore, a viral distribution mechanism whereby gamers d
    • What moderator modded this guy up?

      He is NOT from Nintendo, guys. Go look at his thread history.
    • But to make this possible, you in the consumer electronics industry are going to have to come up with the political lobbying money and organize political action to break the political power of the Hollywood entertainment cartel to do this.

      Yes, I mean break into corporate petty cash accounts to make outspending Hollywood 10 to one possible.

      Most people don't appreciate just how much bigger the consumer technology industry is than the Hollywood cartel... the few that do wonder why you guys let Hollywood dict

  • Please don't squeeze the Sharman Network (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:49PM (#6290648)
    Is it me, or does it seem like the last stage of a P2P before collapse is attempting to go legit?

  • Why Kazaa? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by angryLNX ( 679691 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:53PM (#6290683) Homepage
    I could see BitTorrent being embraced by the media companies, simply because it is less associated at its core with infringing on IP and such. The media companies have had huge legal battles with Kazaa; why would they possibly want to have anything to do with them besides trying to shut them down?
  • As an official distributor it is almost certain they will use DRM protected content, but I don't think anyone on Kazaa would like to re-distribute anything with DRM.

  • Migration (Score:2, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward
    If Kazaa sells out, I bet people will move to freenet, gnutella, or some other less centralized network.

  • Licensed content in Kazaa (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Psychor ( 603391 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:55PM (#6290700) Homepage
    These comments come on the heels of the release of a new version of Kazaa (2.5), incorporating some features that I think sound rather interesting, and are skimmed rather briefly in the linked articles, for example: -
    Kazaa's intention to distribute licensed content via its users rather than via a central server
    Kazaa intends to reward users with 'points' which they can spend on more content or prizes, for distributing this content for them

    What remains to be seen though, is whether users will be willing to pay for the kind of content that they are used to downloading for free, and could probably obtain for free elsewhere. Given that Kazaa's users are already used to this convinience, it seems unlikely that they will start queueing up to get their copyrighted files in legal form. This is especially true since the download of these new licensed files from other P2P users will likely be no faster or more reliable than other files of more dubious legality. Also by allowing users to handle the distribution, the door is opened for cracks that allow people to start handing out their already purchased content for free. I'm unsure how Kazaa intends to stop this from happening, and with the files already stored on a user's machine, any method they select should be fairly simple to overcome.

  • Why would the music industry want their technology (Score:5, Interesting)

    by putaro ( 235078 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @08:57PM (#6290706) Journal

    Napster, Kazaa and Gnutella, etc. are great for poor people (i.e. most of us) or for companies that aren't making any money off the downloads to serve large amounts of data without buying expensive infrastructure. However, for a business that actually expects to make money off the service, I think that distributed P2P is irrelevant. You lose control over quality of service and availability without saving that much money.

    I don't see why the music industry would use Kazaa's technology and I don't see why users would want Kazaa's nasty DRM.

  • Oh really? (Score:5, Funny)

    by Zuke8675309 ( 470025 ) <ty.zucker@gREDHATmail.com minus distro> on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @09:04PM (#6290742)
    KaZaA wants to be the official online distributor for the entertainment industry.


    Aren't they that already?

  • Credibility??? (Score:4, Funny)

    by miketang16 ( 585602 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @09:09PM (#6290781) Journal
    It's going to be pretty hard to gain credibility with ANY company, when every single search phrase comes up with something about child porn.

  • Seems a bit reversed.... (Score:5, Funny)

    by puppet10 ( 84610 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @09:13PM (#6290798)
    KAZAA
    There is no escape. Don't make
    me destroy you. You do not yet
    realize your importance. You
    have only begun to discover your
    power. Join me and I will complete
    your training. With our combined
    strength, we can end this destructive
    conflict and bring order to the
    galaxy.

    RIAA/MPAA
    I'll never join you!

  • This is like a bad mob movie. (Score:3, Interesting)

    by big_fish ( 84303 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @09:13PM (#6290799)
    It like the gangsters get together and meet with teh FBI and say

    "You give us a piece of the action and we will limit crime to only say 80% of what it is now."

    "It's in both our best interests. We already know how to distribute illegal goods. This way it stays at a managable level"

    Insane. Kazza aproachs it's arch-enemy and proposes,use our service to sell your goods.
    You can't touch us in court because we're incormporated in some unknown island, so you better play ball.

  • Don't they read books? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by tomfuck ( 532526 ) <tom @ a l t 164.com> on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @09:14PM (#6290809)
    Shouldn't someone at Kazaa have read the book, "All The Rave: The Rise And Fall Of Shawn Fanning's Napster"? Wouldn't they have learned that one of the reasons Napster failed because they tried to hardball the labels and back them into a corner? Just because Kazaa, Napster, or whoever, has the technology and the users, the industry still has the law and the money.

  • Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Loki_1929 ( 550940 ) * on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @09:15PM (#6290814) Journal
    "KaZaA Wants to Be An Official Content Distributor"

    And I want to be an Astronaut.

    I think I like my chances better.

  • Subject: KaZaA aS a LeGiT dIsTrObUtIoN cHaNnEl (Score:3, Funny)

    by Tokerat ( 150341 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @09:18PM (#6290829) Journal

    Having their trademarked name in alternating caps doesn't speak volumes about piracy intent, now does it? ;-)

    ph33r.
  • The irony is that it's likely no one at the RIAA is smart enough to realize that cooperating with kazaa like this would probably be the straw that breaks sharman's network. I won't let kazaa near my machines as is - I sure as hell wouldn't PAY for the priviledge of having all my bandwidth eaten up to line someone else's pocket.

  • Uh, How Stupid Can You Be? (Score:3, Funny)

    by smack.addict ( 116174 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @09:25PM (#6290865)
    I have my issues with the RIAA and MPAA, but I would never suggest to anyone with any sanity whatsoever to become a partner with Kazaa.
  • And people will move onto the next free P2P program.
    Did it when Napster went legit.
    Same with AudioGalaxy.

    BitTorrent or Soulseek anyone?

  • I always thought the KaZaA people were whores... (Score:3, Funny)

    by frovingslosh ( 582462 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @09:37PM (#6290923)
    KaZaA Wants to Be An Official Content Distributor

    and people in hell want ice cream.

  • Greedy providers of a product of dubious legality from an overseas legal loophole-protected island who riddles user's computers with spyware/adware and the like

    Greedy non-providers of product which is sold at artifically inflated prices, monopoly destroyers of competition, and wishes to install spyware on the computer to prevent you from fair use and privacy.

    Well, they do at least have alot in common.

  • what the...? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by ryanoo ( 310484 ) <ryan@@@ryanorourke...org> on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @09:46PM (#6290970) Homepage
    Hemming said Kazaa avoids spyware, but the service does include "adware" from third parties, which allows them to keep track of whether users are responding to online ads.

    What the hell is the difference?

  • and I want a toilet made out of solid gold, but it's just not going to happen is it?

  • Kazaa does not apply hashing (Score:3, Informative)

    by flowerp ( 512865 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @09:55PM (#6291027)

    And hence the downloads degrade nearly every generation. IMHO Kazaa is the most comprehensible source for incomplete and corrupted files.

  • New KaZaA Infomercial (Score:5, Funny)

    by Trent Polack ( 622919 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @10:01PM (#6291073) Homepage
    KaZaA: Now Distributing All the Porn and Warez the World has to Offer for Only $19.95 a month!

    And, if you order now, we'll also include a free 5-warez trial of UniversalKeygen v1.0!

    This offer is not available in stores! However, the first 50 callers will receive a free plastic keyboard cover, mouse cover and even a monitor cover! NO MORE CLEANING UP THAT MESS AFTER VIEWING THAT FAKE BRITNEY SPEARS HARDCORE ACTION FLICK!

    Just call 888.PIE.RACY

  • Translation for those interested (Score:5, Informative)

    by Mikey-San ( 582838 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @10:04PM (#6291094) Homepage Journal
    KaZaA to media organizations:

    "Either get in business with us or we'll continue making it dirt-easy to steal your content."

    See also:

    http://www.bartleby.com/61/87/E0298700.html
  • Phase 1: Create platform that allows people to easily violate copyright laws.

    Phase 2: Switch sides and join with copyright owners.

    Phase 3: ??????

    Phase 4: Profit!
  • So who gets my money when I download a pre-coitus pic of some jilted lovers ex partner?

  • Yeah Right (Score:3, Funny)

    by SomeOtherGuy ( 179082 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @10:42PM (#6291331) Journal
    Would this not be like the grocery store not letting me leave after my grocery purchases until I bagged and carted 5 or 6 of the customers behind me in line? Listen people, if you want to sell a product and make a profit -- pony up your product, disk space to hold said product, and your bandwidth to distribute the product. Why should I have to make a purchase and then wander around the cyber store why you sucked my bandwidth AFTER I have opened my wallet, to sell to the guy behind me. Damn -- brokers.

  • Theives and Taxes (Score:4, Funny)

    by yintercept ( 517362 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:30PM (#6291531) Homepage Journal
    In the meantime, she's promoting a plan in the United States dubbed the Intellectual Property User Fee (IPUF), suggesting that a small fee could be added to ISP (Internet service provider) subscriptions to pay artists and content companies, for example

    What a complete piece of flem! Not only does KaZaA infest computers with spyware, the sleezebag company is lobbying to impose a tax on all internet users to pay for their theft.

    Personally, I can see no reason why people who do not partake in file sharing and are very concientious of others intellectual rights should end up having to pay the price for KaZaA's actions.

    Isn't it interesting how people who are theives at heart tend to so quickly look to taxing others.

    Of course, the whole point of P2P is to push the cost of your entertainment on othe others. So, demanding that others pay a direct tax is really not a stretch.

    Since most politicians are theives at heart, it might pass.

  • They see the writing on the wall (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Infonaut ( 96956 ) <infonaut@gmail.com> on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:41PM (#6291573) Homepage Journal
    Before the Apple Music Store proved that the music industry and online distributors could provide something useful to customers, KaZaa and their partners in file-swapping were the only game in town.

    Now the RIAA and MPAA have seen an alternate model that actually works. KaZaA is making their bid now because they know that Apple, Microsoft, and a host of other players are jumping into online distribution with both feet.

    It was easy to be the poster child for disgruntled consumers before the music industry made the deal with Apple. Hell, KaZaA could get away with all kinds of bullshit that nobody would put up with from an established software company.

    KaZaA's moment of maximum impact on the industry has already been passed. They're scrambling to be relevant in an industry that is finally moving into the future.

  • Anything named "Kazaa" will not work (Score:4, Insightful)

    by YrWrstNtmr ( 564987 ) on Tuesday June 24, 2003 @11:51PM (#6291609)
    Not as a type of pay system. The brand name is far too entrenched in the 'free' mentality.

    I don't care how you market it, or how you spin it....the brand Kazaa cannot coexist with the concept of "money changing hands".

    If you want to use a P2P type system, that's OK (kind of once you get around ISP personal account bandwidth restrictions). But don't attempt to call it Kazaa, or Napster, or any permutation thereof. Give it some rational name.

  • Well done Kazaa (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Rogerborg ( 306625 ) on Wednesday June 25, 2003 @08:17AM (#6293067) Homepage

    Instead of waiting for the [MP|RI]AA to kill them, they decide to commit suicide.

    They push viruses. They (try to) push spyware. They (try to) sell my CPU and bandwidth. Now they want me to pay them for the priviledge of receiving content from Bob. And they expect me to give that content to Sally when she pays them.

    In other words, they want us to pay to commit (in the [MP|RI]AA's eyes) piracy, with only their say-so that it's above board.

    Here's a better idea. When I want to download from Bob, I pay Bob and trust him to pass the money on to the rights holders. When Sally wants to download from me, she pays me. Kazaa can go screw themselves, and die penniless and alone. Hell, I'll cheer on the [MP|RI]AA when they finally bring these fuckers down.

    You think that a company that's asserting that the technology (peer to peer) is here to stay would realise that the moment they try to turn that technology into Kazaa-to-slave, they'll be dropped faster than SCO shares.

    I walked away from Kazaa (lite) a long time ago. eDonkey (well, eMule) is where it's at today. When that goes darkside (maybe tomorrow), there's always gnutella. P2P is here to stay. Rosen and Valenti can't stop it. Kazaa can't sell it out. They need to realise that the days of obscene profits from music and movies are over. It will be lean days ahead, and while that sucks for the working Joes in those industries, well, if you're still making buggy whips when the first automobile drives into town, you belong to the past, not the future.

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