Apple Pulls Grooveshark From App Store, Because Universal Music Doesn't Like It

from the time-to-move-to-the-open-app-market dept

Wed, Aug 18th 2010 8:20am — Mike Masnick

As a whole bunch of you have been submitting, apparently Apple yanked Grooveshark's iPhone app after receiving a complaint from Universal Music, one of the record labels who has sued Grooveshark, and is claiming that it has not properly licensed the music. Grooveshark has argued for years that what it's doing is legal, but multiple record labels have disagreed. Still, Apple wants to keep the major record labels happy, so bye-bye Grooveshark. Perhaps they should explore creating a web app and putting it on something like the OpenAppMkt, since that's outside of Apple's control...

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Filed Under: apps, copyright, music
Companies: apple, grooveshark, universal music

18 Comments

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Jay (profile), 18 Aug 2010 @ 8:26am

It's legal but Grooveshark has told the labels they would rather pay than legal stuff.

Don't know why Universal is pulling the legal card though.

Discussing Grooveshark's look at DMCA takedowns

It'll be interesting if Universal loses the case...
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m3mnoch (profile), 18 Aug 2010 @ 8:51am

or, it could be the business conflict with itunes (and universal just makes a sweet scapegoat) since it's still up in the android store.

/shrug

m3mnoch.
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cc (profile), 18 Aug 2010 @ 8:55am

This is the first I hear of Grooveshark, but it's just brill! :D
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Malodorous Intent (profile), 18 Aug 2010 @ 9:01am

Re:
The android market had different overlords.
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Malodorous Intent (profile), 18 Aug 2010 @ 9:01am

Re:
The android market had different overlords.
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martyburns (profile), 18 Aug 2010 @ 9:40am

Re:
Me too.

Looks like Spotify with no need to sign up or use standalone client. Thanks Universal for letting me know about it!
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silvo, 18 Aug 2010 @ 10:18am

What's with all the OpenAppMkt publicity?
Seriously, Mike, do you have a deal with them or what? I keep seeing links to OpenAppMkt in many of your posts. I agree that it is a great idea, but I am afraid you are close to overpromoting it...
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spc, 18 Aug 2010 @ 10:43am

You know what's briliant about GS, it works in my country.Yap, works in Poland. It's not bloody Spotify which basically tells me to take a hike: "Beat it peasant, Thou are not worthy..."
They've got everything, amazing variety. Two thumbs up for Grooveshark.
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Spaceman Spiff (profile), 18 Aug 2010 @ 11:09am

Can you spell...
Android! Android! Android! To H with the iPhone!
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Jaws4theRevenge (profile), 18 Aug 2010 @ 11:16am

Um... this Grooveshark thing is awesome. It hasn't freaked out because in Ireland yet. This... hasn't happened before. Is it a trap?
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Nate (profile), 18 Aug 2010 @ 11:47am

Re:
Agreed. I just found out about it yesterday through a friend. Wonder where he found out...
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Aug 2010 @ 11:51am

Re:
Nope. Been using it close to three years and never found a song it couldn't play.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Aug 2010 @ 12:20pm

Re:
That is the problem really, an app that works all over the world means only 1 lousy license when some people were thinking about a hundred hundred million licenses.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Aug 2010 @ 12:35pm

it's still available if you jail break
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Brendan (profile), 18 Aug 2010 @ 1:32pm

Thanks for the headsup.
I'd heard of Grooveshark before, but never bothered trying it.

Now that the legacy giants are suing, it's safe to assume the service is actually provide some interesting value or otherwise doing something very right.

Thanks RIAA!
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hometoast (profile), 19 Aug 2010 @ 5:20am

Re:
@m3, that's close to what I was thinking. Or that UMG said, pull the app, or we pull stuff from iTunes.
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amanda, 19 Aug 2010 @ 4:44pm

Universal just want a big slice of the cake so to speak, with spotify not available in the USA yet, grooveshark could become the biggest on demand streaming service in America with the Iphone app so Universal want to milk as much money as they can from grooveshark before they withdraw their complaint
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Roel, 24 Aug 2010 @ 7:23am

Wow grooveshark is amazing! Thanks for letting me know about this, Universal!
This is one of the first decent music apps available in my country. I'm impressed and even considering paying for the VIP membership! Hats off, grooveshark.
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