BERLIN - German media giant Bertelsmann wants to take over Napster, the pioneering online music service. <br>
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That word from Bertelsmann's chief executive in a German newspaper interview published today. <br>
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Thomas Middlehoff is quoted as saying an offer has been made to the original Napster shareholders. <br>
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Bertelsmann was among music companies filing lawsuits against Napster over copyright. It later got together with the Redwood City, California-based company on a venture to distribute music legally over the Internet. <br>
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Bertelsmann has extended about $85 million in loans to Napster. <br>
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Napster was the world's most popular song-sharing service until it was shut down by court order last summer. <br>
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It plans to relaunch as a subscription service once it reaches a settlement with the music companies, including Universal, Sony and Warner.
