As we revealed last week, German firm Hypermedia has registered MP3 as a trademark. The firm confirmed it had done so today, and issued a statement on its intentions. Norbert Boehnke, MD of hypermedia GmbH webcasting and MusicPl@y GmbH, said that the firm has filed MP3 as a common European trademark. He said, and we quote directly: "This is to ensure that everyone can use the term MP3, at present the term the most sought in the Internet." The company's Web site is a home for establishing new MP3-based services, Boenhke said. "The registration of the trademark is designed to protect the term MP3 against access by MP3 opponents," he said. "At the moment considerations are being made about sponsoring young artists and musicians through a licensing scheme and thus helping to enhance the MP3 scene with even more musical content." "The aim is to show important MP3 is to the music scene, and the common goal is to safeguard MP3 for the general public and to maintain and promote the MP3 music scene," said Boehnke. ® Related Story German firm registers MP3 as trademark