Morpheus’ Redirecting Software to Be Optional

The head of a controversial online file-sharing network said last week that the company’s use of a technology that redirects Web users to preferred sites was an experiment that would become an optional feature in the future.

StreamCast Networks, whose Morpheus network allows tens of millions of Internet users to download music, movies and other files, plans to roll out a shopping network that will reward users with cash back and other incentives, Chief Executive Steve Griffin said.

The company came under fire last month when users discovered it secretly had included a software device that redirected Web surfers from popular shopping sites such as Amazon.com to sites run by business affiliates of StreamCast.

The new Morpheus service comes as rival network KaZaA faces criticism for secretly including a technology that could seize a user’s extra bandwidth and processing power to perform other tasks.