View source for IMesh

{{short description|File sharing client}}
{{Lowercase}}
{{other|Imesh (given name)}}
{{Infobox software
| name = iMesh
| logo = Logo of iMesh from Website.jpg
| logo_size = 230px
| caption = 
| developer = iMesh, Inc.
| released = {{start date and age|1999|11}}
| discontinued = June 9, 2016
<!---| latest release version = 11.0.933
| latest release date = {{release date and age|2012|08|5}}-->| operating_system = [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]
| size = 14.0&nbsp;MB
| programming language = [[C++]]
| genre = [[Peer-to-peer]]
| license = Proprietary
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20160221045350/http://www.imesh.com/ Official website] (archive)
}}

'''iMesh''' was a media and [[file sharing]] client that was available in nine languages. It used a proprietary, centralized, [[Peer-to-peer|P2P]] network (IM2Net) operating on ports [[Hypertext Transfer Protocol|80]], [[HTTPS|443]] and [[Microsoft Notification Protocol|1863]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imesh.com/helpTech.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080730021201/http://www.imesh.com/helpTech.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 July 2008|title=iMesh – Over 15,000,000 Music downloads and MP3's – 100% legal|date=30 July 2008|access-date=18 February 2018}}</ref> iMesh was owned by [[United States|American]] company iMesh, Inc., who maintained development centers around the world. {{Asof|2009}}, it was the third most popular music subscription service in the US.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-indie-music-rights-agency-merlin-adds-tracks-to-p2p-network-imesh/|title=Indie Music Rights Agency Merlin Adds Tracks To P2P Network iMesh|first=Edit|last=Staff|date=8 March 2009|website=paidcontent.co.uk|access-date=18 February 2018|archive-date=13 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213120720/http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-indie-music-rights-agency-merlin-adds-tracks-to-p2p-network-imesh|url-status=dead}}</ref>

iMesh operated the first "[[RIAA]]-approved" P2P service, allowing users residing in the United States and Canada to download music content of choice for a monthly fee in the form of either a Premium subscription or a "ToGo" subscription. This subscription-based approach is advocated by theories such as the [[Open Music Model]]. A third option was also available for users (residing in either country) to permanently purchase tracks for 99 cents (USD) each, without a subscription.

In September 2013, the website of iMesh was hacked and approximately 50M accounts were exposed. The data was later put up for sale on a dark market website in mid-2016 and included email and IP addresses, usernames and salted MD5 hashes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/imesh-hack-more-51-million-user-records-former-filesharing-site-sale-dark-web-1565185|title=iMesh hack: More than 51 million user records from former filesharing site for sale on dark web|date=June 13, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://haveibeenpwned.com/PwnedWebsites#iMesh|title=iMesh case on haveibeenpwned.com}}</ref>

==Shutdown==

On June 9, 2016, iMesh shut down their service without prior notification.<ref name=Facebook>{{cite web|url=http://support.imesh.com/|title=iMesh – After many years of wonderful music, iMesh is no... &#124; Facebook|date=2016-06-09|access-date=2016-06-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228211858/http://support.imesh.com/|archive-date=2016-12-28|url-status=dead}}</ref>  Their top-level web page was changed to read "We are sad to inform you that iMesh is no longer available."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imesh.com/|title=iMesh support|date=2016-06-09|access-date=2016-06-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221054340/http://www.imesh.com/|archive-date=2012-12-21}}</ref>  Their Support page was changed to read "Due to changes in the music industry we regret to inform you that iMesh will no longer be available for download, and will no longer sell subscriptions or music tracks."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://support.imesh.com/|title=iMesh Support and Knowledge Base|date=2016-06-09|access-date=2016-06-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228211858/http://support.imesh.com/|archive-date=2016-12-28|url-status=dead}}</ref>  They posted to their [[Facebook]] page: "After many years of wonderful music, iMesh is no longer available. Thank you for listening with us. Stay tuned for our next adventure."<ref name=Facebook />  Multiple Facebook users commented on the post to express frustration that they had no way to contact friends made via the iMesh social networking features.<ref name=Facebook />

==Legal aspects==

===RIAA lawsuit===
On September 18, 2003 the [[RIAA]] (Recording Industry Association of America) sued iMesh for encouraging copyright infringement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/newsitem.php?news_year_filter=2003&resultpage=5&id=D800116B-7177-E185-C8E2-390871BD1FFB|title=Recording Industry Files Copyright Infringement Claims Against P2P Service - riaa.com|website=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|access-date=18 February 2018}}</ref> iMesh settled the lawsuit a little over 10 months later on July 20, 2004, where according to the RIAA, the terms of the settlement were that iMesh would pay them US$4.1 million and could continue operating as normal (unlike [[Grokster]]) while implementing a paid service (iMesh 6.0).<ref name="mp3.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.mp3.com/news/stories/2126.html|title=MP3.com|website=MP3.com|access-date=18 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211103051/http://www.mp3.com/news/stories/2126.html|archive-date=11 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> iMesh had first agreed to have the new service available by the end of 2004, but this was pushed back towards the end of 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/121755/imesh_looks_to_go_legal.html|title=IMesh Looks to Go Legal|website=PCWorld|access-date=18 February 2018|archive-date=22 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822113653/http://www.pcworld.com/article/121755/imesh_looks_to_go_legal.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> due to technicalities.<ref>[http://news.cnet.com/Legal-P2P-opens-for-business/2100-1027_3-5911718.html?tag=mncol Legal P2P opens for business]</ref>

===Legality===
After the relaunch, iMesh was advertised as a 100% legal [[Peer-to-peer|P2P]] client, and acknowledged as being so by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/toolsforparents.php?content_selector=legal_music_sites|title=RIAA List of Legal Download sites - riaa.com|website=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|access-date=18 February 2018}}</ref> This was because downloads through the client were limited to a select database of 15 million licensed songs and videos.<ref>{{cite web|title=Where Can I Download Free Music?|url=http://www.legalfreemusicdownloads.com/|publisher=Legal Free Music Downloads|access-date=3 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304213204/http://www.legalfreemusicdownloads.com/|archive-date=4 March 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The iMesh 6 client (and later versions) achieved this by detecting attempts to download copyrighted material and blocking the transfer through the use of [[acoustic fingerprint]]ing, provided by content protection company [[Audible Magic]].<ref name="mp3.com"/>

An agreement with the [[Motion Picture Association of America|MPAA]] had also been reached. Video files more than 50 [[megabyte|MB]] in size and 15 minutes in length could no longer be shared on the iMesh network, ensuring feature-length releases would not be transferred across the network.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/news/2005/11/69457|title=Peer-to-Peer Goes Legit|access-date=18 February 2018}}</ref>
<!---==Release history==
===Original program===
*November 24, 1999, a pre-beta 1.02 was released.
*December 26, 1999, a beta version 1.02 was released which features instant messaging between users, a new skin and anti-virus scanning.
*March 2, 2001, version 2.0 was released.
*March 18, 2002, version 3.1 was released.<ref name="iMesh Guide">{{cite web|url=http://forums.imesh.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=19137|title=- iMesh Guide|access-date=18 February 2018}}</ref>
*April 15, 2003 iMesh 4.1 was released.<ref name="iMesh Guide"/>
*September 4, 2003 iMesh 4.2 was released.<ref name="iMesh Guide"/>
*June 8, 2004, iMesh 5.0 was released <ref>{{cite web|url=http://forums.imesh.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=52961|title=iMesh 5.0 announcement release – iMesh forums|access-date=18 February 2018}}</ref> which was the first multi-networked version allowing users to connect to the [[eDonkey Network]], [[Gnutella]], [[Gnutella2]] (like [[MLDonkey]] and [[Shareaza]]) and the iMesh network.
*August 25, 2004, iMesh 5.0 build 223 was released with support for the eDonkey Network removed due to many bugs.
*June 30, 2005, iMesh 5.2 was released.

===Latest program===
*October 25, 2005, iMesh 6.0 was released. The first "[[RIAA]]-approved" P2P service.
*April 10, 2006, iMesh 6.5 was released, allowing users to send instant messages to each other and simultaneously listen to the same songs with the "Listen Together" feature <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tomshardware.com/news/imesh-version65-instantmessaging,2601.html|title=iMesh adds instant messaging to P2P service|date=10 April 2006|access-date=18 February 2018}}</ref>
*November 6, 2006, iMesh 7.0 was released, which added social networking features, instant messaging, an improved user interface and greater stability to the client.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}
*April 11, 2007, iMesh 7.1 was released.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}
*April 5, 2008, iMesh 7.2 was released.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}
*October 12, 2008, iMesh 8.0 was released with a new skin, the ability to purchase music in the MP3 format and integration with [[YouTube]], allowing videos to be searched for and downloaded to a user's library.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}
*December 23, 2008, iMesh 8.1 was released with various bug fixes and the key feature being a 'guest' mode, allowing users to access the service and download P2P content without the need of registering.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}
*May 11, 2009, iMesh 9.0 was released featuring an 'iMesh DJ', enabling users to choose an artist or song and instantly receive a playlist of similar artists, streamed directly from [[YouTube]].{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}--->

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{Music digital distribution platforms}}
{{Video digital distribution platforms}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Imesh}}
[[Category:Defunct digital music services or companies]]
[[Category:Defunct mass media companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct online music stores]]
[[Category:File sharing software]]
[[Category:1999 software]]
[[Category:File hosting for Windows]]
[[Category:Software companies of Israel]]