Judge Kills Napster Sale Over Conflict of Interest

MaxVlast writes "The New York Times is reporting that 'A bankruptcy judge blocked the sale of Napster Inc. to Bertelsmann AG on Tuesday, killing a deal that might have revived the idled Internet music pioneer.' The Napster CEO used to work for Berteslsmann, and the judge suspects a conflict of interest. The CEO says that Napster will probably go from Chapter 11 to a Chapter 7 liquidation." Reader VinceK adds a link to the same AP story (with no login needed) carried at Biz Report, and more reports at the SJ Mercury News, CBS Marketwatch and InfoWorld.

Comments

RIP Napster!

[af_robot]

So Long, and Thanks For All The MP3!

Re:RIP Napster!

[cscx]

You think that's funny? Go to Napster.com and click the image. :)

Re:RIP Napster!

[karlm]

If you are downloading music that is copyrighted, and you haven't payed for it, you ARE STEALING.

And if you cross the street ouside of the crosswalk, you are SETTING FIRE TO CARS. However, few people know that if you drive with an open alcohol container in your vehicle, you are SELLING CRACK TO KIDS! If you smoke marajuana, you are enacting THEERMONUCLEAR TERRORISM! Perople must be warned! Yes, we all know that one kind of illegal act is often identically equal to a more severe and destructive illegal act. We must get the word out on the lesser known examples.

Thank Jebus for Hillary Rosen and her public service announcements that copyright infringement == theft! Praise Gud that the public is now understanding the moral ight of crime elevation! We must now follow Saimt Rosen's lead and warn the public about the lesser known elevated crimes! Praise Arrah!

I appologize to anyone offended by the names of the pseudo-dieties ued to mock the stupid sheep that believe the inustry line. Religion is a beautiful thing, blind sheephood is not and I did not want anyone to get confused as to whom I was mocking.

It was to be expected...

[lennart78]

Just like the first Greek to leave ship at Troy was bound to fall, the first big MP3-sharing service was bound to be taken down by the RIAA.
Still however, the Greek took Troy nontheless, it just took 'em a couple of years...

Can't buy it?

[Random Data]

I wonder if I can download it off P2P....

Only in America.....

[PhreakOfTime]

only here can a service that was started up for fun, and used to trade items with no money changing hands, end up being bought and sold to put it out of business....

Take a look on their website

[Yuioup]

Have a look on their website
www.napster.com
Yuioup

I take my hat off to Napster

[Anenga]

Somebody had to be the sponge, the magnet, whatever - to suck in all the legal battles from the RIAA and allow Gnutella to be born in the background. No matter how many TRL Appearances Shawn Fanning had, how many teens rallied against the RIAA, nothing could stop the impending demise of Napster.

Napster really did pave the way for P2P File Sharing, and they deserve some respect. I mean, who here didn't use Napster?

Goodbye Nappy

[Raul654]

I've seen this comment before re:napster, but it's just a appropriate as ever:

Napster is like some poor 4-legged woodland creature that's been hit by a truck - it's crippled, howling in pain, and just a shell of what it used to be. There's blood all over the ground. Someone please put it out of its misery.

So what is Shawn Fanning doing now?

[peter303]

Did hew finish his degree?