Facebook dumps Project Playlist
2008-12-24 22:34
Washington - Social network Facebook has severed ties with Project Playlist, just days after rival MySpace cut its links with the fast-growing music-sharing start-up over copyright violation fears.
Facebook's move came a day after the Palo Alto, California-based Project Playlist announced its biggest coup yet - an agreement with Sony BMG to make its library of digital music available to users of playlist.com.
Project Playlist, which allows users to upload music and create and share playlists, is being sued by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and three major music labels for alleged copyright violations.
Just days after MySpace made a similar move, Facebook on Tuesday said it was removing a Project Playlist application from the social network.
In a statement obtained by several technology blogs, Facebook said the RIAA "initially contacted Facebook last summer requesting the removal of the Project Playlist application for copyright violation, and recently reopened those communications.
"We have forwarded the RIAA's letters to Project Playlist so it can work directly with that organisation and music labels on a resolution," Facebook said.
"In the meantime, the application must be removed to comply with the Facebook Platform Terms of Service," it said.
Project Playlist has more than 40 million users according to online research firm comScore and recently hired former Facebook executive Owen Van Natta to head the start-up.
Announcing the agreement with Sony BMG on Monday, Project Playlist founder Jeremy Riney said he hoped the deal would lead to similar agreements with other music labels.
"Collaborating with Sony BMG is a significant milestone in our effort to improve the access and quality of content on Project Playlist, and enhance the overall user experience," Riney said in a statement.
"We hope that we soon will be able to provide our users with ready access to even more of the music they want in the way that they want it."