You are here: silicon.com > Networks > LANs

Napster goes legit

"We have made them an offer" - Bertlesmann

By Jon Bernstein

Published: 8 April 2002 07:20 GMT

Napster, the music sharing site and one-time symbol of people power on the web, is set to end its days as an independent concern after Bertlesmann confirmed plans for a takeover.

Bertlesmann, the German media conglomerate which initially invested in Napster back in 2000, is ready to spend up to £20m to acquire the service, according to chief executive Thomas Middelhoff.

Talking to the German daily newspaper Die Welt on Friday, Middlehoff said: "Our solution now is to completely takeover Napster. We want to buy out the original shareholders. We have made them an offer."

If Bertlesmann does complete the takeover it will acquire a company deep in legal problems. Napster has until the end of the year to respond to the big four music labels in a lawsuit in which it is accused of aiding the infringement of music copyright.

Add comment

Print story with

Email story

Do file sharers know just what they are sharing?

Court keeps Napster shut

Record industry scuppers Napster relaunch

Napster: "Time is on our side"

Porn site bids for Napster

In silicon.com

Commentary

Rob Bamforth Plenty of life ahead for RFID and NFC From waving your phone at shopkeepers to saving electrical workers' lives

Peter Cochrane Peter Cochrane's Blog: How the telcos could save themselves Doomed network operators could thrive with a bit of innovation

Latest News

CIOs' advice on the perks and perils of unified communications

'Don't just outsource the problem when you outsource IT'

Telegraph CIO on the rocky road to going Google

Taxman to save £110m by taking an axe to its IT estate

It's down to you to save the world, IT industry

Jobs

PHP Team Leader - Online Music - City London

PHP Team Leader - Online Music - City Lonon required for one of the world's largest online dance music stores, with over one million tracks on vinyl, ...

ASP.NET, C# Developer - Global Record Label - London

Alternatively these positions would be suitable for Senior .NET / ASP.NET, C# Developer who are looking to work on Greenfield .NET / C# projects and ...

Microsoft Exchange Analyst German

Observes strict compliance to licensing, copyright and trademark legislation? Customer oriented, enthusiastic, courteous, assertive, and motivated to ...

Special Report Focus

Agenda Setters 2009
Welcome to the ninth annual Agenda Setters poll – silicon.com's list of the top 50 most influential individuals in the technology and IT industries, from techies and CIOs to entrepreneurs and business leaders. Find out more in our latest special report.