Case study: Limewire

How have online media developed?

The initial release of Limewire was on May 3rd 2000. The software was discontinued on 26th October 2010. When Kimba Wood issued an injunction forcing LimeWire to prevent "the searching, downloading, uploading, file trading and/or file distribution functionality, and/or all functionality" of its software. A trial investigating the damages necessary to compensate the affected record labels is scheduled to begin in January 2011.

As a result of the injunction, LimeWire 5.5.11 and newer have been disabled using a backdoor installed by the company. However, version 5.5.10 and all prior versions of LimeWire remain fully functional and cannot be disabled unless a user upgrades to one of the newer versions.

When the software was up and running anyone with access to the internet on their computer could download limewire and downloaded and share files illegally.

What has been the impact of the internet on media production?

Limewire is just one of the many softwares which have enabled users of the internet to download content illegally over the past decade. Recently the effects of illegal file sharing has had a huge effect on record companies and artists. 95% of music is downloaded illegally and it said that the music industry is loosing an estimated 12.5 million a year. This has resulted in a major record company 'mercury records' announcing that they shall be not producing anymore 'singles' because they don't have the money to make this possible due to so many people not buying their music.

How is consumer behaviour and audience response transformed by online media, in relation to the past?

When internet access was very limited people had no option but to purchase their music from stores. With the progress of illegal file sharing exploding lately, music has become more available to a wider audience than ever before. People who could not afford music before are able to access it through sites such as limewire. It has been explored that those who are downloading illegally spend around £77 a year on music, where those who buy everything legally only spend £44. The advantage of online file sharing could be that it is a 'view and buy' process. People may listen to the album, like it and then decide to buy it rather than spending the money and finding they don't enjoy the artists content!!!!

To what extent has convergence transformed the media?

Limewire is a method convergence as you can download songs via your computer through the Limewire software. Once you have done this you can successfully share the songs you have illegally downloaded with your friends through msn or maybe create a CD and share it with your friends. This has transformed the media in a positive way as the media is now more accessible and people can afford it more often. However this is affecting the artists and the music industry in general as people are sharing their music for free. As well as sharing for free, the majority of people who have downloaded the music which they then share, have downloaded it illegally in the first place. Due to illegal downloads record companies are loosing industries and not being able to take on new artists to create new music and are now starting to abolish the production of singles.