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Napster: Files
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None of these ploys is adequate to resolve the problems Napster poses for the university community. Moreover, Napster is only one of a growing number of similar file sharing applications, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution for dealing with them. For example, the Napster-like program iMesh (http://www.imesh.com) operates on entirely different software, using entirely different network addresses and network ports. Even if Napster were disabled, programs like iMesh would continue to operate without interruption.
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On May 17, 2002, Napster announced that its assets would be acquired by German media firm Bertelsmann for $85 million. Pursuant to terms of that agreement, on June 3 Napster filed for Chapter 11 protection under United States bankruptcy laws. On September 3, 2002, an American bankruptcy judge blocked the sale to Bertelsmann and forced Napster to liquidate its assets according to Chapter 7 of the U.S. bankruptcy laws.[11]
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Later that same year Napster was sued by the RIAA for copyright infringement. Napster's stance was that the files that were being shared were never in their posession and that if Napster is guilty of anything illegal then so are the people using the program. In February of 2001 Napster was ordered to block all files that were considered to infringe on a copyright. Napster officially shutdown in September of 2002 when its sale to Bertelsmann was blocked by a Delaware court.
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Under terms of the settlement, Napster agreed to identify and block access to files that artists do not want to share. Both artists agreed to allow the sharing of some music once Napster installs a system that ensures payment to artists and publishers.
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Overall, Napster has come a long way since its early days in the late 1990s and is a worthy competitor to iTunes. However, if only there was less DRM on their files, it would score much more highly.
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By making Napster available to its students, Drexel University has provided a convenient way for students to obtain music legally. It is hoped that this initiative will curb the problem of illegal sharing of copyrighted files, while teaching students the concept of copyright and the importance of using legal means to obtain music.
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