Staying with technology type things, SonyBMG has signed up to
SnoCap, the new business of the original Napster creator **Shawn
Fanning**. SnoCap is aiming to give P2P networks some legitimacy by adding a system which stops music fans from illegally sharing copyrighted music over the net by recognising tracks that belong to record labels. However P2P users will be able to access those tracks via the P2P network they are familiar with in return for a small fee which will be passed back to the content owner, thus incorporating legitimate download sales into the P2P environment.
With Universal already on board SnoCap will now be keen to get
EMI and Warner signed up as soon as possible so that they can say they have the major labels covered.
However, some might argue getting the record labels to sign up was probably always going to be the easiest bit. It remains to be seen if any of the major P2P networks like Grokster or Kazaa adopt the
SnoCap system - reducing the attraction of their service to music fans in return for some legitimacy.
Some reckon how the P2P companies take to SnoCap will depend on how successful the entertainments industry is in the upcoming Supreme
Court hearing on the MGM v Grokster case and in their attempts to get Congress to clarify the liability P2P companies should accept for the copyright violation they enable. If the courts or politicians go in favour of the record labels and film studios the P2Ps may be forced to adopt the SnoCap system to demonstrate they are acting in good faith to stop the illegal use of their technology.
Of course even if the P2P networks sign up to SnoCap it remains to be seen how music fans used to a free supply of all music via Kazaa et al take to any new restrictions. Especially as there is sure to be new P2P technology being made available by unofficial sources that will offer the full Kazaa style service should the big players go the SnoCap route.