Judge Suspends Claims Against Napster

U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel in San Francisco has temporarily suspended the major record companies’ legal claims against Napster Inc., the controversial online song-sharing service, to give the companies more time to negotiate a settlement. The suspension, which was made public Wednesday and will last until mid-February, came as Patel was considering the labels’ request for summary judgment against Napster.

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Jon Healey