Recording Group Sues MP3.Com

The Recording Industry Assn. of America has sued MP3.com Inc. over its features allowing users to instantly hear music and add their personal music to a play list. The federal suit, filed in New York, claims the San Diego-based company illegally compiled an online library of 40,000 copyrighted albums. Officials with MP3.com could not immediately be reached for comment. The legal action seeks to shut down the MP3 services “Beam-it” and “Instant Listening,” but the industry association did not say whether it also was seeking monetary damages. MP3.com confirmed it was served with the lawsuit, but Chief Executive Michael Robertson said he did not have a chance to review it. “We have every intention of fighting this to the court of last resort, if necessary,” he said. News of the lawsuit was released after the close of U.S. markets Friday. MP3.com shares closed off $2 at $29.63 on Nasdaq on Friday.