Divisions in the RIAA: RIAA sues Bertelsmann over Napster

CNET is also reporting today that many of the major record labels have sued Bertelsmann because of how it handled its purchase of Napster.

The complaint alleges that Bertelsmann "was fully aware of the critical role its funding played in facilitating infringement by Napster users" and therefore "systematically participated in, facilitated, materially contributed to and encouraged" illegal music file swapping.

The music publishers also charge that Bertelsmann had the ability to halt Napster services but instead kept it "operating in order to preserve Napster's user base for Bertelsmann's own commercial advantage."

The case is in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Unfortunately, that court only offers the old dialup version of the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system, so I can't get in and look at the docket information.