LimeWire’s ideas don’t find real support in those of Wayne Rosso, the founder of P2P startup Mashboxx. LimeWire’s intention was to combine web-based communities, music, video content and contextual ads, with P2P file-sharing but Rosso has a strong opinion about : no one is going to use his company patents.
Although Mashboxx is considered to be the first P2P outlet with license, financial problems appeared. Rosso’s words are pointing to a new strategy: securing new investment.
On the blog, LimeWire CEO George Searle, mentioned some future plans: a music download store and a project called "LimeSpot", which will present bands and their fans forums, wikis and blogs. It’s the LimeWire’s trying to become a social media empire.
It is not an easy way. A lawsuit is already taking place between the P2P company and some major record labels. Rosso considers that IP is owned by his company for at least some of the functions Searle illustrated.
And there is proof to support these affirmations: the U.S. patent office has in its database evidence that Mashboxx applied for an "adaptive information network" that offers advertising and other web content based on the searches and file libraries of P2P users. When NewTeeVee requested a commentary, LimeWire refused to give one.
Before becoming the head of the first licensed P2P platform in the U.S, he was in the music biz, was CEO of Grokster and worked at Optisoft, a Spanish file-swapping service. Rosso declared that, after an important investor backtracked, Mashboxx’s development ceased.
Rosso also said that a new deal will facilitate Mashboxx recover. But, if trying to monetize P2P, patent lawsuits won’t help. Emphasizing the value of IP can secure the future of the company.
The monetization of the search requests and downloads facilitated through P2P networks could represent a big chance. But once with the growth of interest in the space will increase the bar and the IP licensing costs for those looking to join in.
