To online file-traders, it is the original, pure file format for digital music. To the recording industry, it is a pirate ship that has been the basis for copyright violation and lost revenue.

MP3 players had once been the de facto audiophile gadget, the thing you needed to have if you wanted on-the-go music sessions. Apple, in particular, has had a stake in the MP3 market for many years ...

July 14, 1995: The MP3 file format receives its official name as the new .bit file extension gets changed to .mp3. The technology allows the compression of a standard CD .wav file to one-tenth its ...