NAPSTER, RIAA, MEDIATOR MEET

If Napster officials farted, would the world care? Would our readers? Would we? Hello? Hello? Is this thing on?

Lawyers representing Napster and the Recording Industry Association of America participated in a conference call Friday (4/13) with a court-appointed online expert in an attempt to resolve disputes over Napster's attempted compliance with an injunction barring the trading of copyrighted songs on the service.

While both sides refused to discuss the conversation, sources close to the action said that U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel, who ordered the mediator's participation (hitsdailydouble.com, 4/10), ruled the transcript of the call sealed.

Sources said Patel, lawyers from both sides and A.J. "Nick" Nichols—Patel's expert whom she hopes could help her understand the technical alternatives available to Napster as it attempts to block songs—took part in the call.

No word that any progress in the case was actually made.