Paid Inclusion

July 23, 2004

In an effort to keep their students' online music downloading habits legal, a number of US universities have reached an agreement with digital music download service Napster.

Students at Cornell University, The George Washington University, Middlebury College, The University of Miami, The University of Southern California and Wright State University will have access to Napster's subscription program.

Students will be allowed unlimited streaming access and will be able to download songs at a discounted rate, or no rate at all (depending on the school — Penn State and The University of Rochester are already working with Napster and provide their students service at no extra charge).

Permanent single-song and album downloads will cost students the same prices as they do the public.

It's a smart move on the universities' part as it makes them more attractive to potential students and it's likely cheaper than RIAA lawsuits.

Source: eMarketer.com