Online music provider Napster is being forced into liquidation following a US court decision to block its sale.

German media giant Bertelsmann offered $9m to the company which allowed users to download music free and hoped to relaunch it later this year.

However, major record groups such as AOL Time Warner, EMI, Sony and Universal, have argued that the process cheats them and the artists out of royalties.

Court proceedings have been continuing since 1999. Since then attempts to become a legitimate subscription online music provider by Napster have failed.

The demand for such services will be an ongoing thorn in the side of the music industry.

Napster - created by 19-year-old student Shawn Fanning - reached more than 70 million users. And now file-sharing software like Kazaa and Morpheus are filling Napsters shoes.

The debate continues. Should music still be available free on the web?

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