很少真正在乎版权的中国人也许不会在意这个在西方人看来是很疯狂的消息－－Sony BMG和英国的ISP PlayLouder达成的协议。 英国的PlayLouder 自封为世界上第一家也是唯一一家MSP，也就是Music Service Provider。协议达成后，在PlayLouder的用户在PlayLouder的网络内，被授权可以任意的分享Sony BMG的所有音乐作品，以任何的格式，任何的方式分享，包括现在被搞音乐和电影的大老板们最痛恨的P2P。

The concept is simple: the music industry forms a collecting society, which then offers file-sharing music fans the opportunity to "get legit" in exchange for a reasonable regular payment, say $5 per month. So long as they pay, the fans are free to keep doing what they are going to do anyway—share the music they love using whatever software they like on whatever computer platform they prefer—without fear of lawsuits. The money collected gets divided among rights-holders based on the popularity of their music. In exchange, file-sharing music fans will be free to download whatever they like, using whatever software works best for them. The more people share, the more money goes to rights-holders. The more competition in applications, the more rapid the innovation and improvement. The more freedom to fans to publish what they care about, the deeper the catalog.

Currently, the population of the UK is 60.4 million. Now, assuming similar broadband growth in the UK as in the US (this is untrue, as the US has been rather slow, but let抯 just use that as a simple figure for the moment), that would mean ?carry the one???500m a year from the US alone (that抯 2.6 BILLION according to the Universal Currency Converter).

This is, however, the first clever move by the intellectual property rights’ industry in a long time. As for it being a good move or not, well, what do we really think? I’m still contemplating.

really do think subscription music is an idea whose time has come, because let's face it, file sharing isn't going to go away.

"The BPI welcomes the innovative thinking which has gone into the creation of Playlouder MSP and we give it our full support."

The deal is also a clear indication of Sony BMG's progressive position within the constantly evolving digital music world and shows that the major is at the forefront in identifying and supporting compelling new business models in the digital music market...."

PLMSP has agreed to pay music rights owners a proportion of broadband subscription revenues paid by subscribers, subject to an agreed minimum per subscriber per month.

More, this is a chance for the labels to extract themselves from the unsustainable quicksand they've sunk up to their necks in: suing their customers by the thousands in the hopes that some day, with enough lawsuits, the music-buying public will finally see the light and go back to the malls.