Legal Music Sharing Returns To MIT

An anonymous reader writes "Two MIT students relaunched MIT's believed-legal music sharing network today, using a Linux-based consumer audio device that also launches today as a commercial product. The 'Library Access to Music Project' (LAMP) system was first launched a year ago, but shut down after its content supplier encountered legal hurdles. The re-incarnated LAMP is based on StreetFire Sound's RBX1600, which network-enables multiple inexpensive consumer audio jukeboxes. So... what do you think? Does the new version look legal?"

Comments

Re:read the article

[shark72]

"This means that they pay 2 cents or whatever for each song played. The RIAA *is* getting their money."

Your post was spot on, but just one correction: these licenses are with BMI, ASCAP and SESAC. These are performing rights societies run by and for songwriters and composers. BMI and ASCAP are non-profit (not sure about SESAC). They are completely unrelated to the RIAA, and the RIAA does not see this money.

Of course, BMI and ASCAP are hated just as much by the Slashdot crowd, even though they're run by the artists that many Slashdotters claim to be helping when they pirate music (through word of mouth and by increasing the odds that they might go to a concert). Case in point the stories where BMI or ASCAP comes down on a restaurant that's playing music for their customers without obtaining a license.