Napster returns

Napster taken an important step away from its 'free music' origins with the introduction of its service to stop the unauthorised sharing of copyrighted files.

A test version of the service has been launched today and will be used by 20,000 volunteers. However, it will only be used on material from smaller, independent record labels.

Napster will not fully launch the service until it is able to get content from the major labels. It expects this to happen some time towards the end of the first quarter.

The final version will cost between $5 and $10 a month for 50 downloads. Napster has been quiet since mid last year when a number of major record labels sued it for breach of copyright on artists' music.

Read more about the Napster saga:
Re:Viewing 2001: Online content costs - but is 2002 when we'll pay?
http://www.silicon.com/a50103
Napster wannabe lets you burn CDs
http://www.silicon.com/a49879
Music industry launches its first 'Napster' alternative
http://www.silicon.com/a49677
Napster finds an ally in the armed forces
http://www.silicon.com/a49047
Napster II: the revenge of P2P
http://www.silicon.com/a48954
Napster relaunch put back to 2002
http://www.silicon.com/a48720

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