StreamCast Networks" Morpheus -- a file-swapping service that many have said would be impossible for courts to shut down -- shut out most of its users Tuesday, citing "technical problems."
Computer users trying to log on to the service were greeted with a message telling them to upgrade their software to connect, although no newer version of the software was available. The outage immediately sparked a huge increase in traffic on alternative file-swapping services, such as Gnutella.
In a statement, StreamCast blamed Kazaa, another file-swapping company that had provided the basic software that served as the foundation of the Morpheus program. Kazaa, along with fellow software licensee Grokster, have recently issued upgraded their software, while StreamCast has not.
"Unfortunately, Kazaa"s recent upgrade has made Kazaa"s and Grokster"s new versions incompatible with Morpheus," the company said in its statement, which is posted on it"s web site. "As a result, we are accelerating the release of our new Morpheus software and within days expect Morpheus users to enjoy the Morpheus Preview Edition."
That new software, the company said, would operate using an "open protocol" network. That typically means that different software companies can write pieces of software that talk to each other. The network used by Kazaa, Grokster and until now by Morpheus, is a "closed protocol" network in which each company has to license the software from the owners.