Google has pulled the popular Grooveshark music app from the Android Market, following accusations from the record labels that the service facilitates piracy.
When asked for comment, Google only said that it “removes apps from Android Market that violate [its] terms of service.”
Apple removed the app from the iOS store last August after it received a complaint from the Universal Music Group.
Google is currently in the midst of speaking before the House Judiciary Committee, which is investigating whether the search giant aids piracy by offering AdSense to all sites, including those that offer pirated movies, music and more.
Grooveshark hosts over 6 million tracks.
Result for: record labels
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has said today that the service will likely not hit the U.S. this year, despite promises since 2009.
While still hopeful, Elk says the company now cannot “commit to a specific date.”
When it does launch, however, it will cost $10 per month, much cheaper than the 10 euros it costs currently in EU nations.
During the interview, Elk also denied having knowledge of Apple knowingly painting Spotify in an ugly light to the Big 4 record labels in an effort to keep their monopoly on the digital music business.
“I don’t actually try to focus on what Apple is doing, or what others are doing,” he added. “I am, first and foremost, a user.”
Whether or not Apple has had any say in the decision, the American labels have made it clear they are not close to signing any Spotify deal for the U.S., even though similar deals are already in place in Europe.
Result for: record labels
Before Apple’s much-hyped media event on the 1st, it was reported that CEO Steve Jobs was actively trying to get iTunes Store track samples extended to 60, or even 90 seconds, from the current 30.
The event came and passed, and nothing about the time lengths of the samples was discussed by Jobs or the country.
Cnet says today that licensing issues are holding up the process, but that Jobs is still in active discussions to get the samples extended to 90 seconds.
Says Hanna Pantle, a spokeswoman for BMI, one of the organizations that collects royalties for publishers and songwriters: “We are in active negotiations with Apple.”
Furthermore, Apple has already received the go ahead to extend the samples, from the record labels. Their existing contract with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) also allows for 90 seconds, so it appears to be just a couple of holdouts keeping the update from occurring.
