Katína Paxinoú

Audiogalaxy was a system of file sharing centralized on very popular Internet. The site places today at the disposal of the online music via the platform Rhapsody.

The initial system peer-to-peer

Created by Michael Merhej and David McArthur, the initial system rested on the installation of a software minimalist which indexed files MP3 present on the computers: the satellite . The files present on the hard drives of the users were then listed on the Web site of Audiogalaxy. An search engine made it possible to always find the files which could then be downloaded, via the satellite . Accessible permanently, with a system of resumption of the stopped remote loadings, the site very quickly attracted the users leaving the platform Napster (2001). However, the centralized structure of AudioGalaxy made the system even more vulnerable than Napster to the legal proceedings.

The mission of AudioGalaxy was to facilitate the transfer of music. The system was famous for its community, in particular gràce with the functions of cat in the groups and forums per artist. One could not only receive, but also send a file to another user.

Even if the system were conceived for the division of music, the files of any type could also be divided, simply by re-electing them. To divide foobar.zip, it was enough to re-elect it foobar zip .mp3.

Audiogalaxy Gold

Audiogalaxy very early set up a paying version in addition to the free version: the paying subscribers had access to:

a waiter dedicated instead of the site audiogalaxy.com (supposed faster being)
a special version of the satellite, with priority for network connection, without spywares nor publicities
a forum reserved to the registered voters

Legal problems

Vis-a-vis the threats of the RIAA which estimated that the site proposed files in remote loading illegally, Audiogalaxy began with metttre in place the first filtering. However, these first filters proved to be not very effective in their selection: although AudioGalaxy claims to cooperate with music industry to block the songs under copyright , the system continues to allow the exchange of illegal MP3.

In May 2001, AudioGalaxy implements “groups” which make it possible their members to exchange songs. Certain do-it-yourselfers utilisérent this “ backdoor ” to circumvent the rules filtering the restrictions on certain titles of songs (blocked by AudioGalaxy for reasons of Royalty).

May 9th, 2002, AudioGalaxy imposes the presence of the files in the divided file of the user to be able to be sent. It was before possible to send any song by publishing the parameters of cgi. Protection is quickly circumvented by creating a phantom divided file and while launching a song with the same name. The system of chopping made it possible all the same to launch the correct file in spite of the phantom file.

In front of the inefficiency of filtering, the RIAA decides to continue Audiogalaxy in justice on May 24th, 2002. This day, the site blocks the possibility of sending files identified as protected by the royalty.

June 17th, 2002, AudioGalaxy obtains an out-of-court settlement with the RIAA. The agreement authorizes AudioGalaxy to use a system of filter which requires that for each file placed at the disposal, the author, the editor and the company of recording must give their agreement. The division of the near total of the files is blocked.

After the closing of its service of file-swapping, part of the registered voters left for Mediaseek or GLT Poliane, two clones of Audiogalaxy, but those never reached the popularity of the original.

New Audiogalaxy

September 8th, 2002, taken again AudioGalaxy with listen.com a paying system of streaming named Rhapsody and ceased its service of P2P based on an interface Web.

Although the files are not divided any more, certain forums are always active (examples: Radiohead, Rush and General Discussion).

External bonds

the site audiogalaxy.com

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