Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Spoofing P2P Networks as Marketing Plot

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the better-than-lawsuits dept.

prostoalex writes "Salon's technology section talks about major music labels spoofing the peer-to-peer networks. The users of AudioGalaxy, Gnutella or KaZaa have probably seen a surge of fake MP3 files when conducting a search on a popular title. The MP3 looks legit, but contains a 20 second clip played over and over. Such promotional tracks were especially popular with newest releases, such as Eminem and No Doubt, as pointed out in the article. Who posted the fake tracks to the p2p networks? Could it be, as Salon suggests, a suburban mom, who does not agree with controversial lyrics, or would it be the label, trying to prevent piracy and promote the new album at the same time?"

6 of 440 comments (clear)

  1. about that No Doubt mp3... by zenintrude · · Score: 5, Funny
    you thought it was just 20 seconds repeated over and over, but that's actually the real song...


    hey baby, hey baby, hey!

    hey baby, hey baby, hey!

    --
    - colin
  2. Re:More than likeley it's just 1/2 downloads by RAzaRazor · · Score: 5, Funny
    Quote: I have about 1/2 a gig of what I call 1/2 mp3's that I got from people cancelling me out in the middle of a download. Yes they are shared, no i'm not doing it to screw with you. It's just that i'm too lazy to go through my share folder to clean them out.

    So why not just delete the files when you come across them?

    Oh, also too lazy to listen to the music you download? Why didn't you say so?

    You must be one of those people who download stuff for your "Collection" because it's the size that matters, not what you do with it!
  3. oh really... by paradesign · · Score: 5, Funny

    and i thought they were just boring repetitive songs, you know, like the ones they play on the radio too. i think the RIAA is to blame for those as well.

    --
    I want 2D games back.
  4. Re:The real question is... by PepsiProgrammer · · Score: 5, Funny

    So this explains why 'Who let the dogs out' sucked so bad when i downloaded it, surprisingly after months of trying, I still cant seem to find a legitimate, nonrepeating copy. The RIAA must be pretty serious about all this

    --
    "The United States has no right, no desire, and no intention to impose our form of government on anyone else." - Bush 05
  5. Re:Subliminal? by GrandCow · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'd find it even more clever if they put subliminal messages in the repeated tracks. Way to use technology against people to do your evil bidding ;-)


    Yvan eht nioj...
    Yvan eht nioj...
    Yvan eht nioj...
    Yvan eht nioj...
    --
    "Well kids, you tried your best, and you failed. The lesson is, never try." -Homer Simpson
  6. Re:The music industry finally has the right idea. by Kanasta · · Score: 5, Funny

    Actually, wouldn't this be a perfect opportunity to raid the RIAA HQ for 'pirates'?

    Since they've told us everything that's on p2p is illegal, I think this counts as organised crime!