Napster hits snag with European licensing

GristyMcFisty used our news submit to tell us that Napster
seems to be hitting problems with European licensing.  These licensing
problems mean the company is finding it hard to set up its business in
the UK and to expand its services into the rest of
Europe.  According to Napster's CEO Chris Gorog, Napster still intends to launch " before the end of summer". Speaking to Reuters, Gorog admitted that Napster has yet to license all the content it wants to offer when it launches in the UK.  According to the CEO licensing negotiations are still in early stages but still wants to launch the Napster service in the UK this summer.  It is unkown when the full European launch will take place due to these licensing problems.

Different content licensing regimes in different European countries is hampering Napster"s attempts to set up over here, the company"s parent confirmed today.Describing the European licensing process as "very challenging" and "a bit frustrating", Roxio CEO Chris Gorog said Napster still intends to launch "before the end of summer".Speaking to Reuters, Gorog admitted that Napster has yet to license all the content it wants to offer when it launches in the UK. And he has no idea when the service will be extend to the rest of Europe. Licensing negotiations are still in what Gorog described as at a "preliminary stage".

You can read the full story over at The Register.  It will be interesting to see what content Napster will have to offer if they launch in the summer, without getting these licensing issues ironed out by then.

Source: The Register