Free Music Download with Limewire: The Rise and Fall of a Controversial Service

In the early 2000s, music downloading became a popular trend among internet users. One of the most widely used services for free music downloads was LimeWire, which allowed users to share and download music files without paying royalties or licensing fees to artists or record labels. However, this approach ultimately led to LimeWire's downfall.

Just one month after its launch, the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) sued LimeWire again, this time for mass copyright infringement. Despite LimeWire's ability to pay, the NMPA had no choice but to settle for a significantly lower amount. The RIAA had already won a favorable ruling earlier in the year, which led to further trouble for LimeWire.

The RIAA sought damages of $150,000 per violation, the maximum allowed by copyright law. Additionally, the court held LimeWire's founder and president, Mark Gorton, personally liable for the infringing actions. On May 12th, 2010, Wood officially ruled in favor of the RIAA, setting a court date for January 2011 to determine LimeWire's damages.

The district judge, Kimba Wood of New York, determined that LimeWire was actively attracting users and encouraging them to download copyrighted material without permission. At its peak, LimeWire had 4 million users per day, generating up to $20 million annually through ad space and premium users.

However, LimeWire's rapid growth came at a cost. The service was criticized for its lack of responsibility in addressing copyright infringement. When users downloaded the software, they were asked if they would use LimeWire for copyright infringement, which some critics argued was an invitation to engage in illegal activities.

In response to Napster's court-ordered injunction in February 2001, LimeWire's marketing team developed a plan to quickly acquire all of Napster's previous users. This strategy ultimately led to LimeWire's downfall as the RIAA made its case by selecting 1,800 files at random from LimeWire's database and finding that 93% were copyright protected.

LimeWire argued that granting its users access to copyrighted files was not technically the same thing as infringing copyrights. However, the court disagreed, ruling that LimeWire had actively 'induced' its users to infringe on copyrighted material. On October 26th, 2010, the rogue P2P service LimeWire was shut down.

The story of Limewire serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of respecting intellectual property rights and the consequences of engaging in mass copyright infringement. Despite its initial popularity, LimeWire's lack of responsibility ultimately led to its downfall, leaving a legacy of controversy and legal battles in its wake.

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