Then the publisher or content owners can really set a lot of rules on how the content gets treated. As the network develops, individuals will be able to download the songs from others who have downloaded them first. The company faces stiff hurdles in its quest to become a legal, financially successful file-swapping outfit, however. Even Napster itself, with giant Bertelsmann on board, has been unable to persuade other major labels to license their music into a file-swapping environment. CenterSpan also must cross this bridge if it is to be successful.
Executives say they're talking with the major labels but report no deals yet.
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