Napster's return delayed until 2002

Napster's return has been delayed until next year, says the company's chief executive.

Konrad Hilbers says the online music distribution service won't be operating until 2002.

Mr Hilbers blames record companies for the failure to agree terms to offer their music online.

Napster has been shut down since March as a result of a court order to keep copyrighted songs off its site.

San Francisco Federal Judge Marilyn Hall Patel said Napster enables users to engage in wholesale copyright infringement.

Napster had planned to relaunch the site as a paid service later this year, but required permission from the major music labels to distribute copyrighted songs online.

Hilbers said that if the music labels continue to block the use of songs by competitors, "Congress should consider compulsory licensing" to allow Internet firms to use songs on similar terms to radio stations.

"We want to settle our issues with the record industry and move forward," Hilbers said.

"We believe it would be in everyone's interest to put this battle behind us."