Google will today launch its music-based digital locker service despite not have any licensing deals in place with the record companies. Basically the web firm be applying the same logic as Amazon, which launched an identical service in March, that such a storage-based platform does not require licences from rights holders.

As much previously reported, the licensing situation with regards digital lockers – which allow users to upload their MP3 collections to remote servers, and to then download or stream that music back to any net-connected device via some sort of user-friendly player – is very much of debate. In the US, the matter has been subject to litigation for some time in the EMI v MP3tunes case, MP3tunes being one of the first music-centric locker services to hit the market.

Tech companies argue that when they charge users to use digital locker platforms they are selling hard disk space, no more no less, and therefore a content licence is not required, the assumption being the user already has a licence to listen to the music in his or her record collection. They also point out that basic digital lockers have been on the market for years, and many can be used to store music files.

But some in the music business reckon that as soon as digital locker operators specifically position themselves as music services and/or offer a player that allows easy over-the-net playback, that they cease to be simply hard disk providers and that licences are therefore required. They might also add that licences attached to music bought via iTunes or ripped from CD do not technically allow for over-the-net listening.

The motivation for interpreting copyright law in this way probably stems from a fear that digital lockers like those launched by Amazon will compete with the likes of Spotify, which pays the lion’s share of its subscription revenues back to the music industry, while Amazon passes on nothing. For its part, Amazon argues the locker service makes buying MP3s from its digital music store a more attractive proposition, and that the music companies will benefit from that.

While Amazon seemingly decided from the outset that it didn’t need licences for its locker service, and therefore launched without even engaging the content owners, Google, whose locker has been in development for sometime, has being trying to get record label support for its new music venture. However, according to Billboard, said support has been hard to find, and as a result the tech giant will today launch its music locker sans-industry-partners.

What will launch today is a beta version of the new music platform. It will be available to a limited number of users in the US, there will be an albeit sizable track limit of 20,000, and there will be no charge to use the platform. The beta service will be particularly marketed at users of the Motorola Xoom tablet computer, which is powered by Google’s Android operating system. The player component of the new platform will also play music stored on a local computer, and this new player will also be available to Google Android users who are not linked to the new locker service.

Confirming Plan A had been to launch this service with the labels on board, Google’s Director Of Content Partnerships, Zahavah Levine, told Billboard last night: “We’ve been in negotiations with the industry for a different set of features, with mixed results. [But] a couple of major labels were less focused on innovation and more on demanding unreasonable and unsustainable business terms”.

Sections: Digital - Music Business - Top Stories | Tags: Google, Music Beta

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