Napster needs its blanket.(copyright license is next plea)(Brief Article)

Broadcasting & Cable, April, 2001 by Albiniak, Paige

Asks Congress for compulsory license to cover copyrighted songs Beleaguered Internet music-service Napster has officially asked Congress to grant it a blanket copyright license to offer music to consumers by paying one fee into a pool. That was Napster CEO Hank Barry's message to a Senate panel at a hearing last week.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) called the granting of a "compulsory license" a "last resort," to be considered only if the industries involved could not work out their differences. Napster has been trying to settle a legal dispute with record companies, which have accused the Internet service of violating their copyrights. Napster offers a file-swapping service on the Web that allows users to share pieces...

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