Lala (website)

Lala was an online music store created by Silicon Valley entrepreneur Bill Nguyen.

The service allowed members to legally create online shareable "playlists" (formerly known as "radio stations") of their own uploaded music which could play full length songs for other registered Lala members, purchase MP3s, stream music on a one-time basis or as inexpensively purchased "web songs," buy new CDs from the Lala store, leave blurbs on other members' pages, and participate in the community forums.

Lala contracted with major labels and offered a large catalog of albums to stream or purchase.

La La media, Inc. was based in Palo Alto, California and was venture funded by Bain Capital and Ignition Partners, as well as a recent $20 million investment by Warner Music Group Corp.[5] It was founded by serial entrepreneur Bill Nguyen, along with Billy Alvarado, Anselm Baird-Smith, and John Cogan III.

[6] Initially the business focused on CD trading, allowing users to send CDs to other members.

Upon signing up for the trading service, a user would provide a credit card number which was used for subsequent monthly billings.

The website had a "buy new" feature which allows users to purchase new CDs directly from the Lala store at low prices (often at wholesale) through a partnership with retailer Newbury Comics.

The new shipping rate also allowed for members to send CD artwork without worrying about having sufficient postage.

Lala.com's terms and conditions included a provision warning the user that it was illegal to retain MP3 files of a CD once it had been traded.

In April, 2006, Omnilala owned trademark protection for its mark "LALA" for use in music-streaming services and web-based entertainment.

The suit was being successfully defended before the Board, but Omnilala decided to let go of its mark in return for a $90,000 payment.