it’s Official: Napster’s Legit

In essence, it is a free streaming radio deal, NOT as extensive as initially potrayed to be…also included is tethered downloading is included at no additional charge. This means a student can download and keep the music files on up to three personal computers.

Students living in residence halls at a dozen Penn State campuses will be able to participate initially.

NYTimes: The university will pay for the Napster service out of the $160 information technology fee students pay each year. The cost to the university is “substantially less” than the $9.95 fee that individual subscribers pay for the Napster service, he said, though he declined to disclose the precise terms.

News.com: Well, there’s no way to satisfy the teenagers, is there? “Almost every single student I have talked to is outraged that their money is going to a program that they don’t even want…(and that) their money is being sent to the music industry without their consent.” Right.

LA Times: A few other schools, including the University of Rochester, are expected to launch similar online music efforts next spring. Some are likely to include a limited selection of movies as well as music in an attempt to defuse another motive for unauthorized downloading…The online music services are asking for fees of $3 to $8 per student per month, according to the story.

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