December 7, 2006
MS Buys WeedShare Patent; Will Zune Users Be Paid to Share?
Answer: probably not immediately, although some think it’s certainly on the way.
When WeedShare came out, major labels treated its model — paying ordinary fans for sharing music with other buyers — as a passing fad rather than a sign of things to come. They refused to license it, never giving it the fair shot it deserved.
Today, it’s increasingly impossible to ignore the potential business benefits of embracing taste sharing tools, among many other pathways to reach fans. The Zune’s sharing features may be incredibly limited, but it is yet another sign that relying on fans to help drive sales is getting a more serious look.
Filed by Derek Slater at 5:25 am under Uncategorized
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