The record labels are in an absolute frenzy over the emergent ringtone business. It's not enough that Xingtone and Snip 'n Send provide do-it-yourself ringtone clipping for consumers (legally). Now, some companies are producing cover versions of popular ringtones to avoid extortion tactics deployed by the labels. This, from Ringtonia—
"Mobile industry insiders report that record companies have started to pressure mobile content providers NOT to develop or market cover version, or soundalike, truetones (also known by other terms such as realtones), for fear of losing revenues.
"Regardless, the mobile industry is determined to press ahead with their own development of sound alike tones, as they want the revenues and because it's too difficult to strike deals with record companies."
