WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. — One of the entertainment industry’s archest enemies operates from a small office suite on the second floor of a suburban strip mall here.
The sign just above the Italian restaurant doesn’t give any clues about “free online music” or “file-sharing.” It simply says “Morpheus.”
Morpheus. As in the little Internet file-sharing company that Paramount, 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney, Warner Bros., Capitol-EMI, NBC-Universal and Sony/BMG, among others, are seeking to have the Supreme Court shut down for copyright infringement.
Against all odds, Morpheus parent StreamCast Networks has won two court battles with Hollywood and the music industry. Two panels of judges ruled that StreamCast’s Morpheus and fellow file-sharing program Grokster aren’t responsible for infringement — their users are.
Hollywood and the record labels appealed. Now, the big date before the biggest court in the land is just weeks away on March 29. If StreamCast CEO Michael Weiss is sweating, he’s sure not showing it.
“They’re big bullies,” Weiss says of his opponents. “Somebody had to take a stand against them, and I’m glad it was us.”
He’s so confident of winning he’s already making big plans for the future. A new release of Morpheus software next month will add a twist to the familiar offering of unauthorized free access to songs, movies, games and other media.
The new program adds Internet search capabilities and opportunities for advertisers to place pay-per-click ads to Morpheus’ audience of about 4 million users.
“We’re small now,” Weiss says about his company, which is owned by venture capital firm Timberline Venture Partners and other investors, “But one day we’re going to be as big as Google.”
Read the complete story @ UsaToday
Related Posts
- Michael Weiss Promises Morpheus Revitalization
- Record labels sue Morpheus maker
- Official Morpheus Press Release Regarding the Supreme Court Decision
- Jtella Developer Takes Action Against StreamCast over Morpheus 2.0
- Meet Morpheus 4.5 with NEOnet
Loading ...
