SeeqPod files for bankruptcy, prepares for lawsuits

The popular online music player SeeqPod, a service whose API powers a cluster of other music sites, has apparently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to documents linked by TechCrunch. There hasn't been any announcement that SeeqPod's service will stop operating, but the company is facing lawsuits from record labels that object to its ability to efficiently crawl the web to find Mp3s files from blogs and other sources. TechCrunch speculates that the bankruptcy filing is a reaction to the legal actions that are piling up against SeeqPod.

Download Squad is not in the legal business, obviously, but I'd speculate that SeeqPod would be eligible for protection under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, because its mp3 crawling functions are entirely automated, but even if that's true, it's expensive for a startup to fight a protracted legal battle against big players like Warner Music and EMI. I love SeeqPod, and I'd love to see the service continue, especially as part of sites like Mixtape.me. Hopefully bankruptcy turns out to be the right move for SeeqPod's investor and its fans.

Tags: bankruptcy, chapter-11, lawsuit, seeqpod