Petition Calls For AOL To Keep Winamp Alive, Or Release It As An Open Source

Just last week, it was announced that Winamp would finally be shutting it doors and that the software would no longer be available for download come December 2013. Naturally many were shocked by this especially since Winamp has been around for more than 15 years, although there have been rumors of Microsoft potentially interested in acquiring the software from AOL but we’re not sure if this means Microsoft plans on keeping it alive, or if they simply want the patents.

In any case while the decision appears to be final, a petition has been created on Change.org where users are asking AOL to keep Winamp alive, or at the very least let the software go open source so that the community will be responsible for keeping it alive and continue distributing it even if it is no longer officially supported by AOL. According to the petition, “After more than 15 years and millions of users worldwide, Winamp Media Player will cease forever as of 20th Dec 2013. Winamp is the best media player ever built. If there were other alternatives that would be fine. But there is nothing that can do what Winamp can do. It is the most versatile media player on earth.”

The petition has since managed to go on and nab over 15,000 signatures at this time of writing. What do you guys think? Will you be signing this petition?

Tyler Lee
Categories: General
Tags: aol, winamp