Is Microsoft about to purchase SeeqPod's assets?

There's a rumor going around that Microsoft could be preparing to purchase music search engine SeeqPod, or at least acquire some of the company's technology. Now where did this crazy rumor come from? SeeqPod. If you go to the site right now, which is for the most part shut down, and hover your mouse over the word "metamorphosis," you get a link to search.microsoft.com. Odd, no?

Now in an interview with Wired, SeeqPod's CEO has confirmed that the company has been talking to Microosft for the past year. No deal has been signed yet, and no cash has changed hands. But it looks pretty likely that something is going on here.

SeeqPod made a name for itself as a music search engine that would scour the web for MP3 files, letting you play them in a Flash based player. While the site never hosted any copyrighted files itself, it made it possible to find and play thousands, if not millions of illegally uploaded media files. Somehow I doubt Microsoft will purchase SeeqPod and relaunch the site using the same business model. But SeeqPod's search tools could be repurposed to help users discover and play legal audio, video, and other rich media content from around the web if Microsoft or another company with the right know how decides to put SeeqPod's algorithm to a different use.

Link: SeeqPod.com
Link: interview with Wired