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Napster sees traffic surge as judge sounds off

Live or die, Napster's wildly popular music-swapping service holds important lessons for the music industry, and for copyright issues at large.

CNET News staff
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CNET News staff
3 min read
 

While Napster's legal troubles signal an uncertain future, some legal experts say they see little choice for the music-swapping service but to forge full-steam ahead with litigation. As a federal judge's injunction order against the company is closely studied, a surge in visitor traffic to Napster raises new questions about the viability of the online music industry.

"They created a monster...That's the consequence they face."

- U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel

Napster wildfire

RIAA: Technology isn't the enemy

Napster attorney turns tables on RIAA

 
By CNET News.com staff
August 4, 2000, 3:45 a.m. PT
 Napster traffic figures raise new questions
According to ratings firm Media Metrix, more people visited Napster.com last week than they did Amazon.com, long one of the best-known brands on the Web.

Napster order: Judge's own words
transcript Read the full transcript of the injunction against Napster, which was issued orally in federal court. A written ruling has not yet been filed.

Record firms learn lessons slowly
Live or die, Napster holds important lessons for the very companies that are trying to put it out of business.

Legal experts: litigation or bust
The company's appeal of a court-ordered shutdown grants it more time but little room to maneuver in its legal clash with the recording industry.

EMusic, Napster talk partnership
The online music company says it began talks last week on possible co-marketing with the song-swapping software firm.

previous coverage
Napster's pain is PC industry's gain
The company's legal woes are the computer industry?s boon as people download digital music to burn onto CDs or transfer to portable players.

Court grants stay of Napster injunction
update Nine hours before it would have been forced to shut down its music-swapping service, Napster wins a temporary reprieve.

CEO fights for Napster's life
newsmaker Hank Barry talks with CNET News.com about what will become of Napster if the court refuses his appeal.

Napster files injunction appeal
update Napster attorneys ask an appeals court to put the brakes on an injunction that threatens to shut down the site by Friday.

Judge: Pull the plug
update A federal judge orders Napster to halt the trading of copyrighted material, saying its founders have "created a monster."

How the Napster ban affects you
FAQ We take a look at some of the most important questions for Napster fans and foes following the historic order.

 

Rick Dube
Webnoize analyst
He doubts that other "swap" sites will be able to equal Napster's popularity.
Listen:  RealAudio | Windows Media

My.MP3.com could again be successful as a commercial service.
Listen:  RealAudio | Windows Media

Gene Kan
Gnutella developer
Discussing the technology behind Gnutella.
Listen:  RealAudio | Windows Media


 
Under fire: Companies across the industry fight copyright lawsuits over MP3 file sharing

Napster: A federal judge orders the music-swapping service to essentially shut down, barring it from assisting in trading copyrighted works.
• RIAA: Pull major-label songs off Napster
• Napster to face trial on piracy claims

MP3Board.com: The company filed a claim against the record industry asking for redress for the RIAA's role in temporarily closing the MP3Board site for linking to copyrighted songs.
• MP3Board countersues RIAA
• MP3 firm in dispute with record industry

Scour.net: The record industry joins the Motion Picture Association of America in charging that Scour.net violates industry copyrights by allowing widespread copying of files.
• Movie studios target Scour with lawsuit

MP3.com: The company has agreed to settle with several record labels after it was found guilty of copyright infringement. Damages have yet to be determined, but they could run into the billions of dollars.
• MP3.com recasts as "infrastructure" company
• MP3.com settles copyright dispute