REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – Metallica and rap artist Dr. Dre have settled their copyright suits against Napster.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but as part of the agreement, Metallica will allow some of the band's songs to be traded on Napster's song-swap system once a legal business model has been launched later this summer, both sides said Thursday.
"I think we've resolved this in a way that works for fans, recording artists and songwriters alike," said Lars Ulrich, Metallica's drummer.
The lawsuits were filed last year at the height of Napster's popularity.
The company has since been dogged by lawsuits by artists and the recording industry, which won an injunction against the company ordering it to block access to all copyright music.
Napster's efforts have produce mild results. The service has been off-line since July 2 as the company tries to retool its software technology to comply with the court order.
The company said late Wednesday it would appeal a federal judge's decision that the company remain off-line until it can perfect its song-swapping system.
U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel said the company's promise of 99 percent effectiveness was not good enough.
Napster has been buying time until it can launch its much anticipated paid subscription service, due this summer.
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