{{Unreferenced|date=November 2007}}

{{Cleanup|date=August 2006}}
[[Image:AGSatellite609.png|thumb|300px|Audiogalaxy Satellite 0.609]]
'''Audiogalaxy''', formerly located at http://www.audiogalaxy.com/, was a [[file sharing]] system that indexed [[MP3]] files. Originally created by [[Michael Merhej]] as an FTP site index called The Borg Search, Audiogalaxy evolved into a robust [[peer-to-peer]] system with client software (the Audiogalaxy "Satellite"), a web-based [[search engine]], always-on searching for requested files, auto-resume and low system impact. It quickly gained ground among file sharers abandoning [[Napster]] in [[2001]]. Some observing the previous downfall of Napster via lawsuit were shocked at the design of Audiogalaxy, which was in some ways more centralized than Napster.

* In May of 2001, Audiogalaxy implemented "groups" which allowed group members to send songs to everyone in the group. Clever hackers used this backdoor to circumvent the "blocked songs" restriction, where Audiogalaxy could deny transfer of specific copyrighted songs.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}
* On [[May 9]], [[2002]], Audiogalaxy required songs to be in the sender's shared folder to be sent. Previously, one could send any song to anyone by editing the [[Common Gateway Interface|CGI]] parameters. This protection was quickly defeated by creating a "dummy" file in one's shared folder, and sending a song with the same name -- due to Audiogalaxy's [[checksum]] [[hash function|hashing]], the correct file was always sent despite the dummy. Some of the users could bypass this setting too, but instead of CGI editing there was a less sophisticated solution. A simple .bat file in sharing folder (with a line "move *.mp3 x:\something\" for example) was scheduled at desired time moving all of the MP3 files into desired folder.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}
* Even though Audiogalaxy claimed that they were trying to cooperate with the [[music industry]] and block [[copyright]]ed songs from their network, they continued to offer illegal MP3s and were sued by [[RIAA]], on [[May 24]], [[2002]]. On this day, Audiogalaxy blocked sending of all blocked songs.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}
* On [[June 17]], [[2002]], Audiogalaxy reached an [[out-of-court settlement]] with the RIAA. The settlement reached would allow Audiogalaxy to operate a "filter-in" system, which required that for any music available, the songwriter, music publisher, and/or recording company must first consent to the use and sharing of the work. {{Fact|date=November 2007}}
* On [[September 8]], [[2002]], Audiogalaxy licensed and re-branded a for-pay streaming service called ''[[Rhapsody (online music service)|Rhapsody]]'' from [[Listen.com]] and discontinued its famous web-based P2P service.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}
* On [[December 25]], [[2002]], Martin Rieder wrote a preliminary form of a database-backed backwards-compatible Audiogalaxy server, dubbed OpenAG Server.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}

Audiogalaxy's stated mission was to facilitate sharing of music, though much more appears to have grown from its legacy. It was notable for its strong community due to such features as chat-enabled groups and per-artist [[internet forum]]s. This strong community also facilitated a very broad reach of content across many genres, particular those that tend to remain under-developed in more modern systems. Although music is no longer shared, some message boards are still moderately active.

Files of any type could easily be shared via Audiogalaxy by renaming a file in a certain way. For example, myvid.avi would be shared by renaming it to myvid<space>avi<space>.mp3{{Fact|date=November 2007}}

==External links==
*[http://www.audiogalaxy.com/getRhapsody Audiogalaxy's Rhapsody service:]
*[http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2002/6/21/171321/675 R.I.P Audiogalaxy] - Kennon Ballou's story of Audiogalaxy (an Audiogalaxy programmer)

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:File sharing networks]]
[[Category:File sharing programs]]
[[Category:Internet forums]]

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