Rockers Sound A Sour Note
Music and the Internet may both be good at bringing people together, but a new type of software called "Napster" is driving a wedge between fans—who want to sample tunes for free—and musicians, who say they're losing out.
CBS News Correspondent Sandra Hughes reports Napster is free software that, once downloaded onto a computer, allows the user to find and trade music with anyone who is connected to the Internet.
It also lets the user to save songs on their hard drive and even make CDs—all for free.
Brian Houska, who as a disc jockey at the campus radio station shares tunes with other University of Southern California students, also shares tunes with the world through Napster.
"I think Napster's good, just for finding music that I wouldn't buy otherwise," said Houska.
However, that's partly why many artists are screaming mad, especially the head-banging, hard rocking band Metallica.
The band has claimed Napster is illegal and filed suit against its creator for copyright infringement.
"If I let a car mechanic download my music for free then I want him to come over and fix my car for free," Lars Ulrich, the band’s drummer, said. "Somebody had to take a stand…We've never been afraid of being the first ones out of the gate."
While about 20 universities have blocked access to Napster because the program is clogging up campus computers, the problem for the recording industry is that Napster could turn its business model on its ear, and make a permanent dent in the sales, which numbered 755 million albums and $14.6 billion in 1999.
"If one person can buy the CD, put it on the Internet and hundreds of thousands can download that CD for free, then…all the revenue, all the profits stop," explained Paul Bond of The Hollywood Reporter.
Other versions of Napster's song-sharing technology are expected, leading many to believe no matter the outcome of the lawsuit, the net is changing music-making for good.
A federal judge ruled Friday that the web service "MP3. com" infringes the copyrights of record companies by offering music on-line without permission.
The decision could cost MP3 billions and affect Napster’s survival.
For Napster's part, the makers stress on their website that, "Napster supports the rights of artists and copyright holders and seeks to comply with applicable laws and regulations governing copyright."
In the "Terms Of Use" section on the site, it reads, "Napaster does not, and cannot, control what content is available to you using the Napster browser."
It goes on to say that, "Users are responsible for complying with all applicable federal and state laws applicable to such content, including copyright laws."