The internet music trading system called Napster has been ordered shutdown by a federal judge. Responding to a suit by the R.I.A.A., the judge ruled that the online company was encouraging “wholesale infringing” against the music industry.

Napster has until midnight Friday to comply. In the meantime, they will file an appeal tomorrow morning in which they will ask the court to stay the order until such proceedings are resolved. Hank Barry, CEO of Napster, and Shawn Fanning, its founder, issued a statement via a Yahoo webcast tonight in which they said "We strongly oppose this ruling and plan on fighting it... but will comply if forced to do so".

The essence of the judge's ruling is that "one to one commercial file sharing breaks the law". The effect of such a ruling means that Napster, thorn in the side of the music industry, is as good as dead.

Related Links:

Debate this ruling in the Jazz Forum

The Jazz Forum Napster Thread

Napster Web Site

ABC NEWS COVERAGE