MP3.com, the once massive music download site that settled copyright infringement suits with major record labels, said on Monday it is allowing the sharing of music and videos but this time with the authorization of independent artists.

In its first incarnation, the company founded in 1997 by Michael Robertson amassed one of the largest collections of downloadable music but faced numerous lawsuits.

MP3.com paid millions of dollars to settle copyright infringement suits brought by the five major music labels and other members of the Recording Industry Association of America. It was then acquired by Vivendi Universal Music in 2001 and then bought by CNET Networks Inc. in 2003.

Since being acquired by CNET, MP3.com has been mostly offering news and editorial content about music, but will now enable artists to provide music and videos through its site.