Contentinople - Frank Smith - LimeWire to Open Digital Store (Updated)

Written by Frank Smith

Tuesday, August 14. 2007 at 03:00 PM EDT Post a comment

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The p2p file-sharing client LimeWire will open the doors on a digital music store. The initial offering, says CFO Jesse Rubenfeld, will be "a standalone website that functions like eMusic." Future releases of the store will allow users to purchase music directly from the LimeWire program.

So far the company has signed IRIS Distribution and Nettwerk Productions to provide their catalogues for sale. Songs will be sold à la carte or in subscription plans and it is in talks to license more content. Initially it will sell music through "whatever deals that are in place at the time," says Rubenfeld, with an eye toward opening up the store to allow independent musicians and labels to sell direct through LimeWire.

Like another file-sharing service that opened a digital music store, Napster, LimeWire has been a target of the RIAA for copyright infringement and currently both parties are engaged in lawsuits. Rubenfeld declined to comment on the ongoing legal battles.

But comparisons to Napster end there. "It's a better service than Napster," says Rubenfeld. "As a Mac user I've never been able to use it. I'm a big believer in open format." Opening the catalogue and going DRM-free allows entry onto the iPod.

Updated: Includes comment from LimeWire CFO Jesse Rubenfeld.

Tags: Business, DRM, MP3, Music

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