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Case
| HBS Case Collection
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2007
(Revised from original 2006 version)
eDonkey--Deciding the Future of File Sharing
by
Felix Oberholzer-Gee
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Abstract
Sam Yagan, CEO of the upstart MetaMachine, Inc., received a letter from the Recording Industry Association of America, Inc. (RIAA) asking him to shut down eDonkey, MetaMachine's popular file-sharing system. In September 2005, more than 30 million users relied on eDonkey to share digital files, making MetaMachine's software the most popular file-sharing client in the world. But now the end seemed close. Was there a way to save eDonkey? Was it time for Yagan to get out? He had little time to figure out his next move.
Keywords: Software;
Crisis Management;
Music Entertainment;
Legal Liability;
Copyright;
Information Technology Industry;
Music Industry;
United States;