p2pnet.net News:- “Is there a difference between sharing music online with, potentially, millions of people - or streaming it among a small group numbering no more than 30?” - we posted almost two years ago, going on:

“Josh Felser and David Samuel think there is, and they’re sure the difference can make them money. Their ‘Grouper is a new Windows based application that allows users to share their personal media within private groups,’ they say on the site.”

And now they’ve scored.

Sony Pictures has bought the company for for $65 million and henceforth, the Grouper group will be, “working closely with a team at Sony Pictures,” says Sony.

“”When you pair Grouper’s innovative video sharing platform on the web and the desktop with Sony’s connected devices and copyrighted media you create a dynamic and exciting environment for consumers,” said Grouper ceo and co-founder Josh Felser.

For “copyrighted media” read DRM, or digital restrictions management, an impossible dream promoted by Sony and others in the entertainment and software industries.

Sony’s contribution came with the launch of its rootkit spyware under which it tried to secretly plant SunnComm and First4Internet DRM garbage on customer’s computers via polluted music CDs.

Not at all incidentally, the Sony spyware also left PCs open to hacker attack.

It was caught red-handed and is still suffering.

Also See:
make them money - The Grouper Exception: II, October 5, 2004
Sony - Sony Pictures Entertainment Acquires Grouper, August 23, 2006

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