Metallica Sues Up-Start Napster Metallica Sues Up-Start Napster Paul Jones
The hard-rock band Metallica became the first major recording act to sue Napster Inc., makers of the music-sharing program wreaking havoc on university campuses across the country.
Three universities allowing use of Napster on their networks, University of Southern California, Yale University and Indiana University, were also named in the suit.
Metallica's suit stipulates that Napster has infringed upon the band's ownership of its music as allowed for under copyright law. Metallica, unlike many recording acts, has full ownership of its own music, and is thus in a position to go after Napster directly for the alleged violations.
The Recording Industry Association of America earlier brought similar charges against Napster on behalf of record companies, who fear that Napster will erode their profits by allowing individuals to download free digital copies of popular music instead of purchasing CDs.
In a statement on Elektra's Web site, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich writes "from a business standpoint, this is about piracy ... taking something that doesn't belong to you; and that is morally and legally wrong."
