MP3.com is fighting Universal Music Group's potential $167.5 million judgment against it by challenging the company's copyrights. MP3.com is contending that Universal's registration of music as work-for-hire, preventing artists from ever regaining the rights to their work, is invalid. A group of musicians, including Tony Bennett, Sheryl Crow, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen, has asked for permission to file a legal brief in favor of MP3.com's position.

MP3.com streams music to users who have previously purchased CDs containing the music they want to hear. The company has settled with the four other major labels, for $20 million each according to observers, but Universal pursued its lawsuit and won a major judgement against MP3.com, which is now appealing.

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