SAN FRANCISCO: Embattled song-swap service Napster Inc. said Monday it was
using new digital encoding technology to power a subscription-based service it
hopes to launch this summer.
Napster said the technology, licensed from PlayMedia Systems, would enable
Napster's software to encode, recognize and play copyright-protected music files
on the membership service. "Napster is at the forefront of using some
extremely advanced rights management and security technologies in a file-sharing
environment," Napster's interim CEO Hank Barry said in a statement.
Napster, fighting for its life in a legal battle with the recording industry,
went offline this month as engineers sought to fix problems with new
song-filtering systems it hopes will bring the service into compliance with
court orders directing it to protect copyrighted material.
Last week, as Napster was ready to resume operations, a federal judge ordered
it to remain offline until it can show it has done everything in its power to
ensure that the new filters are a success. Napster has appealed that ruling.
(C) Reuters Limited 2001.