Kazza

Woody · Kazza

File-sharing site Kazaa is set to become a legal music download site after a lengthy legal battle.

The site has also promised to pay $100m (£53m) in damages to the record industry, after people shared millions of songs via the network.

Kazaa's owners, Sharman Networks, have been challenged in courts all around the world. Last year an Australian court ruled that the Peer-to-Peer service breached copyright, and ordered the site to modify its software to make it harder to share copyrighted material.

In a statement, Sharman Networks said:

"The settlement marks the dawn of a new age of cooperation between peer-to-peer technology and content industries which will promise an exciting future for online distribution in general and Kazaa users in particular."

Jonathan Arber, research analyst at technology consultants Ovum, said: “The legal tide has slowly and inexorably been turning against Kazaa and file-sharing companies like it for some time now, as heralded by the landmark Grokster-MGM decision in June 2005.

“It is fairly unsurprising that Kazaa has chosen to settle up rather than continue to fight seemingly unwinnable legal battles. Indeed, while $100m is a hefty sum, the legal costs must have been crippling it, and had it come to a court ruling, Sharman could have been ordered to pay even higher damages. So far, so expected - Sharman is cutting its losses and making a run for it.

“This victory is largely symbolic for the record industry - the hardcore file-sharers will long ago have moved on, and Kazaa's remaining users will soon find another platform. However, it does emphasise the fact that the era of businesses based around illegal file-sharing is well and truly over

what I cant understand about all this is, why do companies who produces hardware ,that allows you to copy Cd's do not face the same fate ??

The biggest computer software company in the world manufactures software that allows you to file share , so why aint they facing legal action??

I think this is all wrong , its seems to me we have one rule for one and one rule for another , my guess is they pick the easy targets who find it hard to fight back.

Guest

In my experience that's always the way - the easy targets make you look better and net the biggest return. Ask the police why they target motorists.

Woody

another lover of the boys in blue then eh?

Back to the thread I do think it is shocking , Kazza produce software to file share , what the end user does with that software has really nothing to do with them.

Guest

Trainee Web Monkey

I knew a guy who did the same job as you , and he was called mr B. ware.

i kid you not.

Armleywhite

Kazza is bolox, full of virus etc. Limewire a much better option. Mind you, it won't be long before thats subscription either!!

Guest

Bobby! Haven't seen him for ages!

Trainee Web Monkey

Give my regards to Bobby then

I use limewire , first class me tinks.

Armleywhite

innit!!

Trainee Web Monkey

init just , me is wondering what Mort does for a living nar , before we type owt else

Guest

Woody

oh yesssssssssss we are mates , who wouldnt want a mate that give money away??

Guest

Woody

good , can you see my reet for £50

Guest

To get some you have to have just left prison or a mental home or something - oh ok £200 suit you?

Woody

a mental home????????? i can blag that

Guest

BLAG???

Woody

cheeky sod , laffin

Guest

dj_spuddy

geeeeeeeeeeez bloody hell is Kazaa still bloody going haha?

Woody

shut it darn as far as I know , limewire is all we have left:-)

well unless you are a member of Peeps and we have illegal Tv and film downloads lol

KC

Guest

LoL, people still use Kazaa & limewire..... torrents or newsgroups are the way to go

, not that I use them to share anything copyrighted

KC

http://tvlinks.voodeedoo.org/

Guest

Thats an excellent site Tom your a Legend

KC

I no.

Guest

I KNOW as well

KC

lol ok then

What you watching on that site?

Guest

not really for me but the kids. Futurama, simpsons stuff like that