| Very few people have not heard of "Napster", | | | | downloading song files:1. In the public domain2. |
| originating with a teenager's idea that basically changed | | | | Uploaded by artists who are trying to get exposure3. |
| how the Internet, the music industry, and how we as | | | | Released by record companies, trying to build interest |
| consumers think of online music. The words "intellectual | | | | in a CD4. Paid for the right to download, with the site |
| property" has taken on a whole new meaning due to | | | | paying the artist or record company the royalties.The |
| a young man's innovative ideas. Eighteen-year old | | | | media companies successfully destroyed the original |
| Shawn Fanning, in 1999, wrote the code for the utility | | | | Napster in 2002, yet it's service was co-opted by |
| "Napster", the nickname for Shawn Fanning for his hair. | | | | AOL, Yahoo, and Microsoft. Their instant-messenger |
| The program combined three key functions into one: | | | | products have allowed people to swap music files, |
| search engine dedicated to finding MP3 files only; file | | | | photo files, etc., with their friends. Also, Sony distributes |
| sharing to trade MP3 files directly; and the Internet | | | | some of its music through ScourExchange.Here are a |
| Relay chat (IRC) as a way to find and chat with other | | | | few legal services that charge reasonable amounts |
| MP3 users while they were online. When he | | | | and are respectable names:1. AOL Music Now- |
| downloaded the original beta version to download.com, | | | | America On Line is a major name in the internet world |
| it immediately became one of the hottest downloads | | | | and boast over 1.5 million songs in their database for |
| on the site.MP3 files in Napster were stored on each | | | | members to use. You can try AOL's service on a free |
| user's machine, instead of on one big central computer. | | | | trial then download per song for $0.99.2. F.Y.E. - A |
| This new process was called "peer-to-peer sharing", or | | | | leader in downloadable music, F.Y.E. provides 1.2 million |
| P2P. Each song that was downloaded from someone | | | | songs to choose from for a flat $1 per download after |
| else's machine, which could be located anywhere in | | | | a free trial period.3. MSN Music- Another leading name |
| the world. The main requirement was for the utility | | | | in the internet and the name in computers, Microsoft |
| Napster to be required on each machine for the | | | | offers one million songs that are available for $0.99 per |
| transfer (or file sharing) to work. These songs that | | | | download. MSN does not offer a free trial period.4. |
| were downloaded as MP3 song files into each PC | | | | MusicMatch- The MusicMatch software will make |
| computer for listening, could then be transferred to | | | | personal recommendations for you and charge $0.99 |
| MP3 players, such as the iPods or the Zen Micros, to | | | | per download for the music of your choice. |
| listen to.The ability to download free music online, | | | | MusicMatch does not offer a free trial period.5. |
| instead of purchasing a CD, made this program very | | | | Napster- The name that started it all is now one of the |
| popular. But the music industry nor the music artists, or | | | | premier outlets for music downloads on a monthly |
| even the song writers, were able to get paid for their | | | | membership fee basis. Napster offers downloads for |
| music. Thousands of copies of copyrighted songs | | | | $9.95 a month on up to three computers with around |
| were downloaded for free, upsetting the music | | | | one million songs in their database. Napster offers a |
| industry. Napster became banned from about 40% of | | | | seven day free trial.6. PassAlong- This is a relatively |
| US colleges and universities when it was illegal, with | | | | new site with a smaller database than most download |
| college students being its biggest users. Several | | | | services at around 400,000 songs, but offers a nice |
| reasons were for this: college students really like | | | | perk in exchange. When you make recommendations |
| technology, more than most; and also the colleges and | | | | to your friends for certain types of music you get |
| universities make available to the college students | | | | bonus points to reduce the price of future downloads. |
| high-speed Internet access. The website was sued by | | | | PassAlong starts at $0.99 per download and does not |
| record companies because they did not have | | | | offer a free trial.7. Wal-Mart- The name in bargain |
| copyrighted materials available for the students to | | | | shopping offers the cheapest price for Plays for Sure |
| download online, even though they were paying | | | | compatible subscription services on the market. |
| royalties on everything sold.The Napster lawsuit | | | | Offering the same 400,000 song capacity as |
| attracted the attention of everyone, regardless which | | | | PassAlong, Wal-Mart can offer the best prices |
| side a person was one. The thing to remember is that | | | | because of their corporate structure. Wal-Mart does |
| once someone has purchased or will purchase their | | | | not offer a free trial.Check out for more articles on rio |
| MP3 player, it is important to play legally by the rules. | | | | mp3 players and iriver mp3. |
| Listed on the Internet are some song rules for legally | | | | |