NAPSTER TRIAL ATTRACTS MEDIA, USER OPINIONS

The Recording Industry Association of America's case against Napster on Monday (10/2) generated more media attention than any other case before the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, as some compared the frenzied media attendance to that of the O.J. trial.

"Without a doubt, this is the most in terms of the number of media we had in the building," court administrator Terry Nafisi, who estimated 150 radio, print and photo journalists were on hand, told the Associated Press.

Dozens of traditional and Internet television news outlets taped or carried the hearing.

"The reason we were there was that the case has the potential to really shape online copyright law," said news.com reporter John Borland. "It is one of the most popular stories on our site."

Harry Fuller, news director of techtv.com, said the San Francisco-based Internet news company aired the hearing live on its cable and Internet radio station and carried it live on its Web site.

CNN, which broadcast the hour-long hearing live, was the lone news camera allowed inside the courtroom. Dozens of traditional news outlets, including various Internet organizations, plugged into the feed to air live, broadcast later or to stream on their Web sites.

Most in attendance watched the proceedings via closed-circuit television in various rooms within the San Francisco courthouse. About four dozen reporters were allowed inside the courtroom.

In the meantime, Napster users flocked to Internet chat rooms Monday to voice opinions on the legal battle.

"I have to say that shutting down Napster is wrong," said one visitor to a forum at Napster's Web site. "It is our right to be able to share the music freely on the Internet and the technology is out."

An opposing voice voiced, "Don't get me wrong... free music is fun and great and Napster is so convenient. The recording industry should set up a way we can download music easily and quickly even if we have to pay a bit. But Napster facilitates the ripping off [of] artists."