MySpace Deals With Illegal Downloads

MySpace

FORBES reports that NEWS CORP.'s MYSPACE has agreed to license technology from GRACENOTE to block unauthorized uploads of copyrighted music to the social-networking website.

While GRACENOTE isn't a household name, its technology is familiar to anyone who has copied music from a compact disc onto an IPOD. GRACENOTE is used by APPLE COMPUTER's ITUNES, REALNETWORKS' RHAPSODY and other music services to instantly provide song titles and other information for music CDs.

Frustration over MYSPACE's failure to implement a satisfactory filtering system prompted UNIVERSAL MUSIC Chairman DOUG MORRIS to lash out at the site during an investor conference in SEPTEMBER. MORRIS accused MYSPACE and YOUTUBE of being "copyright infringers" who "owe us tens of millions of dollars." Since then, UNIVERSAL has formed a partnership with YOUTUBE and has sued smaller online video sites BOLT and recent SONY acquisition GROUPER for copyright infringement.

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