Alice - I agree with you that "to copy it and start publishing it yourself" is wrong. And I would prevent that by moving whatever I'd downloaded from Napster out of the library as soon as it finished, thus keeping anyone from getting it from me (selfish, aren't I?).

Nor do I think that Napster is good, or in the right.

I know that people who use it the way I did are the exception, rather than the rule. (I can tell that based on what music is available out there.)

But I was trying to answer a direct question from DougR - How do Mudcatters feel about Napster and whether it is good for artists/industry - and I guess I just worded my answer poorly.

So, to try to be a bit more specific...
I know that the way I used it was beneficial to a couple different labels and for some independent musicians who have released CDs themselves. Musicians who I would not have otherwise known about.