Controversial music-sharing website Napster has been ordered to shut down by a judge in a San Francisco courtroom.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) won a temporary injunction pending a trial over whether the company is violating copyright law.



When the infringing is of such a wholesale magnitude, the plaintiffs are entitled to enforce their copyrights

Federal judge Marilyn Patel

Napster allows users to download software which allows them to access MP3 files on each others' hard drives. The legal battle, which has already prompted congressional hearings, is being closely watched by internet music fans and the music industry and may have far-reaching implications.





The RIAA, which represents companies such as BMG, Sony Music, Warner Music Group and EMI, called Napster a "hijacker" of intellectual property and claimed it had cost the music industry more than $300m in lost sales. But Napster argues its users are not violating copyrights by trading songs for free because they share files for non-commercial use. Injunction In reaching her decision to grant an injunction, generally used as an extreme measure, federal judge Marilyn Patel said: "The court rejects the argument that this will put Napster out of business." "We'll comply with whatever the judge wants," said Napster's Hank Barry before the verdict. But the firm does plan to appeal.



