LimeWire, the defunct file-sharing website, is set to make a comeback.
The controversial service was shut down back in 2010, after a lengthy legal battle with the Recording Industry Association of America over allegations of music piracy. A federal judge found the platform caused copyright infringement on a “massive scale.”
At its height, LimeWire was one of the most popular peer-to-peer file-sharing websites, allowing users to download music and other content online free of charge. The likes of LimeWire, BitTorrent and Napster were eventually succeeded by subscription-based streaming services such as Spotify and Netflix.
More than a decade since it closed down, LimeWire is making a comeback — but with a twist.
The service will relaunch in May as a marketplace for trading nonfungible tokens, or NFTs, digital assets that keep a record of ownership for virtual items on the blockchain.
Austrian brothers Julian and Paul Zehetmayr bought LimeWire’s intellectual property and other assets last year. They say they’ve been planning to bring the platform back ever since.
The new LimeWire will focus on music, letting users buy and trade rare items such as limited editions, unreleased demos and digital merchandise.