Rapper Dr. Dre Sues Napster for Infringement

Rapper Dr. Dre has sued Napster Inc. for copyright infringement after the song-swap software company failed to meet his deadline to take his songs off its directory. Dre’s copyright infringement suit, filed this week in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, follows a similar one filed this month by heavy metal band Metallica. Napster, which enables users to swap songs without artists’ permission, is so popular among college students it has clogged campus networks, causing many universities to ban its use. The San Mateo-based company also has been sued by the Recording Industry Assn. of America. Napster officials were unavailable to comment but have in the past said the company would defend the suits vigorously.