It's also worth nothing that the regular $10 month service now allows unlimited downloading as well, so if you fear an interrupted stream during a key moment (party mix, for example) you can download whatever songs you want to have on your machine (downloads are subject to the expected drm-restrictions).
You can download (not just stream) songs with the $9.95 plan. I have it. This was part of the Rhapsody update the article is about. You just have to deal with the DRM and stay subscribed to play them.
As another article explains: Subscribers could pay $10 a month and download as many tunes as they like but have to remain subscribed in order to play them. http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=22847.
It wasn't 50,000GBP each. It was 50,000GBP between all of them. From the article:
"The average compensation payment was £2,200 each, with one person paying £4,500."
Easy mistake to make - the first paragraph of the article isn't exactly clear that it is not 50,000GBP each.
"The UK music industry has claimed victory in its first battle with illegal file-sharers after 23 people paid £50,000 to settle out of court."
Though I'm also not sure how "50,000 totalled $21,453,716" works out either way.
Slashdot Mirror
It's also worth nothing that the regular $10 month service now allows unlimited downloading as well, so if you fear an interrupted stream during a key moment (party mix, for example) you can download whatever songs you want to have on your machine (downloads are subject to the expected drm-restrictions).
You can download (not just stream) songs with the $9.95 plan. I have it. This was part of the Rhapsody update the article is about. You just have to deal with the DRM and stay subscribed to play them. As another article explains: Subscribers could pay $10 a month and download as many tunes as they like but have to remain subscribed in order to play them. http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=22847.
Easy mistake to make - the first paragraph of the article isn't exactly clear that it is not 50,000GBP each.
"The UK music industry has claimed victory in its first battle with illegal file-sharers after 23 people paid £50,000 to settle out of court."
Though I'm also not sure how "50,000 totalled $21,453,716" works out either way.