When Shawn Fanning, 19, attended Northeastern University; his friends would always complain how hard it was to find good music on the Internet. Every website they tried would lead to dead ends or they would have to pay for music they wanted to download. Fanning thought of a good idea, that if he combined the codes of Internet Relay Chat, a instant messenger, Microsoft Windows, for file sharing, a search engine, and filtering capabilities; he could make a person to person website that would work without a central server. Working without a central server is the key aspect of Napster, since all the MP3 files are being shared by different users no copyright laws are being broken. That is where the problems start, whether or not Na

Napster in my opinion should remain in use because no central server is used to transfer music files. I use Napster and I find nothing illegal about sharing music with someone that lives somewhere around the world. Basically it is exactly the same concept if I shared a CD with my sister, just it is over the Internet. The Music Industry should stop complaining about Napster and learn to accept that we live in a changing world. Even though it is hard to accept change because the Music Industry has not ever changed this drastically since Compact Discs were invented in the mid 1980's. The Music Industry should embrace this opportunity, when else do they get to hear what the kids of the new generation want. They should figure a way to capitalize on this venture that is going to be the way of the future. Only one company will win, if Napster does the world will evolve very fast leaving the Music Industry behind, using old fashion types of marketing and distribution.

pster uses a central server as a means to transfer music files. Five recording companies and the Recording Industry Association of America have sued Napster, claiming the website and Fanning's program are stealing intellectual property. Napster is giving!

The lawsuit with the Music Industry and Napster will most likely go all the way to the Supreme Court, ruling on the side of Napster due to First Amendment protection. But more is at risk than just an Internet company, if the type of person-to-person primer that Napster uses is found legal, the true potential of the Internet will be discovered. The means of everyday business and the way popular culture is marketed will transform to a way not imagined before. The customer can get the product or service without dealing with a middleman, a concept unthinkable now. Everything from movies to software will be shared, a Kindergarten teacher's heaven.

The musicians are taking sides, some believe that Napster is just stealing their original work, and then there are others that just want their music out and people listening to it, no matter if any one gets paid. Lars Ulrich the drummer for Metallica, an outspoken opponent of Napster explains, "Why would people pay for music if they get it for free? We're very lucky...but what about the musicians who are just getting started". A band's popularity gets started by word of mouth and getting people to listen to their music. That is exactly what other musicians believe Napster is doing, helping new band get a break.

In conclusion Napster, a 25 million person website is being sued by the Music Industry because on copyright infringement laws. The fate of a company and the absolute potential of the Internet are being questioned by the Judiciary System. I hope that the lawsuit will be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court so an unbiased ruling can be set. A great concept was invented and I hope that peoples obsession with money does not alter the rulings and ruin a great theory that could eventually change the world as we know it.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The musicians are taking sides, some believe that Napster is just stealing their original work, and then there are others that just want their music out and people listening to it, no matter if any one gets paid. Lars Ulrich the dr

Some common words found in the essay are:
Supreme Court, Music Industry, Lars Ulrich, Introduction Napster, Association America, Napster MP3, Northeastern University, Microsoft Windows, Taro Greenfield, music industry, Magazine's October, central server, supreme court, transfer music files, music files, believe napster, copyright infringement, pay music, potential internet, transfer music, instant messenger, shared kindergarten teacher's, heaven napster opinion, teacher's heaven napster, kindergarten teacher's heaven,
Approximate Word count = 2232
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)