Music-Sharing Service at M.I.T. Is Shut Down

As Dave points out, the New York Times is reporting that MIT has shut down its cable-based music distribution system amid objections from content owners. This latest development is not surprising because, even if the lamp system doesn’t violate the letter of the law, they’re picking a fight with a wounded animal.
Hanging out at my local public library this weekend, I started thinking maybe I was a little tough on the project when posting about it last week. After all, libraries are a fantastic resource. The lamp project is an extension of the library idea, just with a different distribution channel. If lamp provides a useful service to the MIT community, who am I pooh pooh it?
Maybe publicity is what got this project in trouble. Many reacted with glee at the idea of a few clever lawyers and hackers at MIT sticking it to the RIAA. Could the content owners afford to shrug off such a public flaunting of their lack of control? What’s to stop cities and towns from implementing the same thing through their libraries?
I still maintain that lamp addresses the wrong problem. Our bigger fish to fry is a worn out economic model.