Morpheus network goes open source
Source: CNet News
Days after millions of people found themselves locked out of StreamCast Networks' Morpheus file-swapping network, the company has released a new software tool it hopes will resuscitate its service.
The new software, called Morpheus Preview Edition, is based on open-source Gnutella technology, software that has been a mainstay of the file-swapping world since 2000. Until Tuesday's surprise shutdown, the Morpheus service was based on technology licensed from Dutch company Kazaa BV.
"We are pleased to migrate to an open protocol product with the release of Morpheus Preview Edition, which is based on the very large network of Gnutella users," the company's chief executive, Steve Griffin, said in a statement.
The release of the Gnutella-based Morpheus could dramatically change the balance of power in the file-swapping world.
Morpheus users had previously formed the largest group of a three-part file-swapping network, which included members using Kazaa Media Desktop and Grokster software. All three services used technology licensed from Kazaa BV. The services formed a pool of member computers from which any user could search for songs or other files.
