Morpheus plans "time-bombed" tracks

Music files that expire after a limited number of plays are expected to appear on the Morpheus file-sharing network next month.


MusicCity, which runs Morpheus, is planning to let artists and record companies digitally protect their tracks using a technology called CintoA.


Users will be able to listen to tracks protected with CintoA for a limited number of times, after which they will expire and can only be played again once a payment is made.


MusicCity earlier this month released Morpheus Preview Edition, a new version of its software that works on the Gnutella network. It previously used the Kazaa network, but Kazaa claimed it locked out Morpheus for not paying license fees.


MusicCity is preparing to launch Morpheus 2.0 within a few days. It is also preparing to defend a music industry lawsuit.