While increasing numbers of popular music's elite, including Metallica and Dr. Dre, have voiced their thoughts against Napster, it seems that Limp Bizkit may not have a problem with the online music distribution system.

A "Los Angeles Times" report cites sources that say Limp Bizkit was close to completing an estimated $2 million deal with Napster Inc. to sponsor the band's next tour. If the "Times" report is true, it would appear to go against what seems to be the current industry and artist opinion regarding Napster's online music distribution software.

Napster software allows users to search for and download MP3s from the computers of other Napster users, with neither the recording artist nor the record company receiving payment.

At press time, representatives for Napster and Limp Bizkit were unavailable for comment.

Last week, Metallica sued Napster for copyright infringement, accusing the company of encouraging its Web site visitors

to unlawfully copy and transmit unauthorized reproductions of the band's music on the Internet (see [article id="1432071"]"Metallica Sets Legal Sights On Napster"[/article]).

Dr. Dre is also expected to follow in the footsteps of Metallica by filing suit against Napster this week. As we previously reported, the rapper had fired off a letter to Napster giving the company until Friday, April 21 to remove his songs from its pool of potential downloads (see [article id="1428254"]"Dr. Dre Slaps Napster With Warning"[/article]).

On Friday, Dre's attorney (who is also representing Metallica in its suit against Napster) told MTV News that the rapper received a "disingenuous offer" back from Napster.

As the process of drafting the complaint has already begun, the rapper is expected to file suit in Los Angeles' U.S. Federal Court citing the same three charges that Metallica levied at the company, including copyright infringement.

Napster was also the target of a lawsuit in December 1999 for copyright infringement by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the trade group that represents the nation's five largest record conglomerates.

Meanwhile, Limp Bizkit will surface on Monday from Los Angeles, where the band is working on its third album, to announce plans for a string of free concerts (see [article id="1431261"]"Limp Bizkit To Unveil Free Concert Tour"[/article]).

Limp will be joined by Cypress Hill for the outing, which kicks off on July 4 and runs through August 6. Limp Bizkit has scheduled a press conference for Monday to discuss details of the tour and will turn up on MTV's "Total Request Live" that afternoon to announce those details.

For complete digital music coverage, check out the Digital Music Reports.