he music industry. The files send a set of instructions to the computer communicating which sounds to play, not recorded music since there is no way to duplicate vocal tracks. Use of the Midi format has decreased causing the software to become outdated.The reaction from artists, record labels, and other music industries varies, although reactions have been primarily anti-Napster. The first action to be taken against Napster was by the band Metallica. (http://www.salon.com/tech/log/2000/05/10/napster_metallica/index.html) In April of 2000, Metallica sued Napster Inc. for copyright infringement. (http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/review/crh499.htm) Napster banned some 300,000 users who allegedly downloaded Metallica songs to settle the case out of court. (http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/archive/11131.html) Napster Inc. was sued again in June 2000, for copyright infringement by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), a trade group representing the US recording industry. The RIAA alleged, "Napster is… enabling and encouraging the illegal copying and distribution of copyrighted music". (http://www.riaa.com/About- Who.cfm) Napster claims the Audio Home Recording Act permits copying of material for personal use, allowing users to exchange MP3’s. Napster further claims immunity by defining the company as an ISP under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. (http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/archive/11750.html) The RIAA unsuccessfully applied for an injunction to stop Napster's operations until after the court case in September. (http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/review/crh428.htm)Other artists and record labels (http://www.napster.com/speakout/artists.html) and (http://www.napster.com/speakout/labels.html) have reacted to the advent of Napster and similar software in a positive way, embracing the new technology rather than rejecting it. On the Offspring’s website, the band said, "MP3 ...
