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For those of you that are unaware of what is going on, site owners Vivendi Universal sold MP3.com to CNET Networks Inc a few weeks ago with CNET declaring that the site would be shut down in its existing form on December 2nd 2003 with all content on the site being destroyed. What this basically means is that the largest free provider of legal MP3s and streaming music in existence would be no more. Apart from many music fans (and bands) being appalled by the news, it seems several companies are also up in arms with one Texas company in particular, Primetones, trying to acquire MP3.com Inc's audio library.
Primetones director for artist development, David Blumberg, said: "The loss of these MP3.com audio files is a catastrophe that may be felt for generations to come."
As of 26 November, talks were still ongoing with Vivendi and, with time running out, little has been heard in the last day or so.
As for the MP3.com domain, CNET plans to relaunch it next year as "a place for information about music". There are, however, no plans to compete with iTunes or their like for music downloads.
