Apparently KaZaa is still around, or at least its runty child is. After it closed up shop, it seems that the P2P services was purchases by Brilliant Digital Entertainment, which will allow users on KaZaa unlimited DRM-free music downloads for $20 a month. If they actually have the same selection as something like the Amazon MP3 Store or iTunes, then this is really cool for consumers.
But instead of promoting this service as an alternative to buying music a la carte, BDE has decided to use a bit of mafia-style marketing. The original press release made reference to both Jamie Thomas, that single mother who was sued for $1.92 million, and a hacker named Jonathan Joseph James, who committed suicide last year (they’ve since pulled the latter’s name from the release, but not before TorrentFreak picked it up) As attractive as a subscription music service is, it’s bit much to invoke the names of a victim of the American legal system and one of the recently deceased to get people to buy your stuff.
I’m sure to BDE, at least the Jammie Thomas part seemed to make sense. Whenever anyone markets a service, they do so by telling you what you stand to gain from their service’s use. AT&T runs the television ads about how you won’t miss calls if you have them as a provider (which probably seems like a lie to most AT&T customers). BDE offers you protection from being sued for more money than you’ll ever have. Is that smart advertising? Sort of. Tasteful? Not even remotely.
