Song-swapping service uncertain about return

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Thursday, July 19, 2001 | 11:11 a.m.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Napster Inc. says it is uncertain whether it will resume its free song-swapping service despite a federal appeals court saying it can resume its online service.

"We have no immediate comment on when we are going to start," Napster spokeswoman Ricki Seidman said.

On Wednesday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a federal judge's ruling of last week ordering the Redwood City-based company to remain offline until it can fully comply with an injunction to remove all copyright music.

The uncertainty of Napster's free service comes as Napster readies the deployment of a paid subscription service later this year.