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"As a part of a settlement agreement with the major record companies, we have agreed to cease operations immediately, wipe clean all of the record companies' copyrighted works and hand over ownership of this website, our mobile apps and intellectual property, including our patents and copyrights."

Ouch. Sounds harsh. Wonder if they had to turn over the user data as well...

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I wonder if they had to make such an apologetic statement as well.

When you have a loaded gun down your throat...

A Hobson's choice is still a choice isn't it? Says so in the name anyway.

Sure, it's still a choice, but it's a situation where you don't have the upper hand and you are bound to lose no matter what you do.

If they've already lost control of the site it's unlikely they themselves were making this statement. Otherwise it is possible that it's an apology delineated by the settlement and likely written by lawyers.

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