The MP3

rfghBEFORE 1997, MP3 WAS A LITTLE known technology that computer geeks used to download compressed music files free off the Internet. But Internet time moves fast-so fast that by 1998 large pockets of the general public and the mainstream media were talking about MP3, not to mention taking advantage of it. At first the music moguls were afraid of MP3. Protecting copyrights was hard enough without easily accessible Web files enabling any old joes to access-and copy-their …

…distribution. With MP3 the artist records his or her music in digital form and uploads the file for that music onto the Web. Consumers can then download files for their favorite tunes onto their computers and enjoy the music through their home sound systems. They can even store the files on special MP3 listening devices for their mobile listening pleasure. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.