Liquid Audio
Encyclopedia
Liquid Audio Inc was a US software company based in Redwood City
, California
.
Formed in 1996, Liquid Audio developed a major standard, multiple software clients, and a client/server media distribution system for streaming and downloading audio on the Internet. Along with RealNetworks
' RealAudio
(on the Real Player), Liquid Audio was one of the two emerging online audio standards in the 1990s.
The company's founders - Gerry Kearby
, Robert Flynn, and Phil Wiser
- focused on professional audio quality and copyright security to differentiate the offer. The company was a pioneer in enabling copyright compliant media distribution, working closely with record companies and publishing rights agencies such as ASCAP, BMI, The Harry Fox Agency, in the United States, and various other agencies around the world. To represent the industry's copyright interests, Liquid Audio, Real Networks and a host of other companies formed the Digital Media Association to negotiate copyright fees for the Digital Millennium Copyright Act
.
Liquid Audio's solution was ultimately supplanted by RealAudio, and others such as Microsoft's Windows Media Player
. In 2002, Microsoft bought Liquid Audio's DRM
patents.http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/10/01/microsoft_buys_liquid_audio_drm/ After the failure of talks on a takeover by Alliance Entertainment
, in January 2003, Liquid Audio was acquired by Anderson Media/Anderson Merchandisers and was renamed to Liquid Digital Media.http://www.liquiddigitalmedia.com/about.htm
Liquid Digital Media, Inc. focused on custom services for Internet media delivery, including video and audio encoding in WMA, WMV, and MP3 formats; windows DRM encryption; metadata management; image processing/conversion; content hosting/storage; distribution and fulfillment; activity and sales reporting; and physical/digital tie-ins.
On August 28, 2011, Anderson Media/Anderson Merchandisers announced the immediate and effective closing of Liquid Digital Media. Ending a partnership with MP3 Wal-Mart.
Redwood City, California
Redwood City is a California charter city located on the San Francisco Peninsula in Northern California, approximately 27 miles south of San Francisco, and 24 miles north of San Jose. Redwood City's history spans from its earliest inhabitation by the Ohlone people, to its tradition as a port for...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Formed in 1996, Liquid Audio developed a major standard, multiple software clients, and a client/server media distribution system for streaming and downloading audio on the Internet. Along with RealNetworks
RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc. is a provider of Internet media delivery software and services based in Downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. The company is the creator of RealAudio, a compressed audio format; RealVideo, a compressed video format; RealPlayer, a media player; RealDownloader, a download...
' RealAudio
RealAudio
RealAudio is a proprietary audio format developed by RealNetworks and first released in April 1995. It uses a variety of audio codecs, ranging from low-bitrate formats that can be used over dialup modems, to high-fidelity formats for music. It can also be used as a streaming audio format, that is...
(on the Real Player), Liquid Audio was one of the two emerging online audio standards in the 1990s.
The company's founders - Gerry Kearby
Gerry Kearby
Gerald "Gerry" Kearby is an entrepreneur who rose to prominence during the "dot-com" boom of the late 1990s. He has worked predominantly with music and audio-related electronics and software companies....
, Robert Flynn, and Phil Wiser
Phil Wiser
Phil Wiser is a digital media entrepreneur from Silicon Valley, USA. He created Sezmi, a digital television company, in 2006 with partner Buno Pati in 2006. He co-founded Liquid Audio, a pioneering digital music company in the mid 1990s...
- focused on professional audio quality and copyright security to differentiate the offer. The company was a pioneer in enabling copyright compliant media distribution, working closely with record companies and publishing rights agencies such as ASCAP, BMI, The Harry Fox Agency, in the United States, and various other agencies around the world. To represent the industry's copyright interests, Liquid Audio, Real Networks and a host of other companies formed the Digital Media Association to negotiate copyright fees for the Digital Millennium Copyright Act
Digital Millennium Copyright Act
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act is a United States copyright law that implements two 1996 treaties of the World Intellectual Property Organization . It criminalizes production and dissemination of technology, devices, or services intended to circumvent measures that control access to...
.
Liquid Audio's solution was ultimately supplanted by RealAudio, and others such as Microsoft's Windows Media Player
Windows Media Player
Windows Media Player is a media player and media library application developed by Microsoft that is used for playing audio, video and viewing images on personal computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system, as well as on Pocket PC and Windows Mobile-based devices...
. In 2002, Microsoft bought Liquid Audio's DRM
Digital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
patents.http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/10/01/microsoft_buys_liquid_audio_drm/ After the failure of talks on a takeover by Alliance Entertainment
Alliance Entertainment
Alliance Entertainment, LLC is a distributor of music, movies, and game software. From 1995 through 2005, Alliance Entertainment was also the parent company of All Media Guide. In 2005, it merged with Source Interlink. Platinum Equity and the Gores Group acquired Alliance in 2010....
, in January 2003, Liquid Audio was acquired by Anderson Media/Anderson Merchandisers and was renamed to Liquid Digital Media.http://www.liquiddigitalmedia.com/about.htm
Liquid Digital Media, Inc. focused on custom services for Internet media delivery, including video and audio encoding in WMA, WMV, and MP3 formats; windows DRM encryption; metadata management; image processing/conversion; content hosting/storage; distribution and fulfillment; activity and sales reporting; and physical/digital tie-ins.
On August 28, 2011, Anderson Media/Anderson Merchandisers announced the immediate and effective closing of Liquid Digital Media. Ending a partnership with MP3 Wal-Mart.