Aimster, one of the heroes of file sharing technology has now also launced a paid service. This service is however not like other companies. For $4.95 Aimster will allow you to use their premier service that is promising users quicker connections and download times.
Abovepeer, the developers of Aimster, is already watched by the RIAA and for now it's not clear if the service is legal or not.
The recording industry, according to the RIAA website, argues that AbovePeer "maintains a central server which Aimster users can query to find whatever music, movies, pictures or software they want." |
"It's not clear that there are any distinctions between the two systems," a RIAA spokesman said in an e-mail. "There may be some minor distinctions between the two systems, but ultimately they do the same thing and that's allow massive copyright infringement.
"When the judge ruled in the Napster case, she didn't rule on Napster's architecture."
In a pre-emptive legal strike, AbovePeer filed a lawsuit in New York's Northern District court asking for a judgment on the legality of its network. The RIAA fired back with two separate lawsuits filed in New York's Southern District.
Eventually, Northern District judge Lawrence Kahn ruled that the case would be heard in his court.
Both parties are waiting for a ruling on whether all the cases filed against Aimster will be consolidated into one, said George Capinello, a partner with Boies, Schiller and Flexner. Capinello's firm also represents Napster in its copyright infringement battle with the RIAA.
Also read Club Aimster actually pretty funny to read !
Source: Wired.com
