OFFSPRING TO NAPSTER:
COME OUT AND PLAY

Smart-ass punk band The Offspring and MP3 file-sharing service Napster have settled the dispute over the band's selling unauthorized T-shirts, stickers and hats featuring the Napster logo. Today the two issued a joint announcement proclaiming that they would expand the line of merch, with profits going to a charitable organization chosen by the band's Dexter Holland and Napster creator shawn fanning',390,400);">shawn fanning',390,400);">Shawn Fanning.

On Friday (6/3), Napster served the band with a cease-and-desist order after they made bootleg Napster merchandise available at their Web site. Napster has been on the receiving end of lawsuits from Metallica, Dr. Dre and the Recording Industry Association of America, all of whom claim the company is infringing on artists' copyrights by allowing users to trade MP3 files of their work for free without permission.

As Fanning notes in the statement, The Offspring have been vocal supporters of Napster. Holland was quoted in the release as saying, "T-shirts...good."

No word if the money headed for charity will be in Napster stock options.

The irony of Napster suing to protect its intellectual property was not lost even on people with a poorly developed sense of irony, like us. Some observers believe that while Napster spared itself considerable embarrassment with the settlement, the possibility of bands less friendly to Napster staging similar incursions on its brand could create headaches in the future.

In an unrelated story, Napster goodies are plentifully available on eBay.