MP3.com Counters in Copyright Suit

Less than three weeks after being sued by the Recording Industry Assn. of America for alleged copyright violations, MP3.com Inc. filed a countersuit accusing the trade group of unfair business practices.

MP3.com, which offers free digital audio tracks on the Internet from independent artists, filed suit Monday in San Diego Superior Court against the RIAA and its president and chief executive, Hillary Rosen.

Last month, RIAA filed suit against MP3.com, alleging copyright violations arising from its My.MP3.com service, which allows consumers to access digital copies of their CDs over the Net. The trade group accuses MP3.com of creating an unauthorized digital music catalog, claiming many of the works are the property of its members.

Shares of MP3.com closed unchanged at $28.50 on Nasdaq.