LG settles MP3 issue

Finally some movement in the music industry, albeit only in Korea. There was a legal fight earlier this year between industry groups and LG Telecom about the way they tried to enable MP3 downloads onto mobile phones.

However, LG slightly after this pushed the new business model by signing up music groups to give away free MP3 songs anyway, much to the dismay of those industry groups.

Now, three Korean music industry groups have apparently realised that either they jump onto the bandwagon or lose out totally. "Under the deal, LG Telecom subscribers will be able to download copyrighted songs from third-party music Web sites. The service will be offered free of charge to consumers until the end of June next year." Well, it is only until next year, but by then, many things might have changed again.

(By Asia Business Consulting)