THE big debate in cyberspace at the moment is about the fate of Napster, the online music swap site which was closed down by a Californian judge and then re-opened on appeal. And it is a debate fundamental to the world wide web.

The judge acted after a number of pop stars, notably heavy metal band Metallica, sued Napster after people downloaded their tunes, royalty-free, from the site.

I'm in two minds on this one: the old fashioned cyber-anarchist in me wants to use the web to dismantle international capitalism and provide free information to all, and says let Napster stay and let's download all we want for free. Oh, and it's a great way for new or unsigned bands to get their music heard without having to go through the whole record company process, which again is a good thing.

On the other hand, the side of me which has to get money to pay the mortgage, put food on the family table and keep Baby Lewis in Huggies, thinks the commercial side of the web should be fully developed as a natural and exciting extension to current business practice. And my righteous soul fervently believes in the ownership of intellectual property and the rights of artists to make an honest shilling from their labours. It's an enigma, wrapped in a quandary inside a mystery with a puzzle and fries on the side and no mistake. Let me know what you think, and, if I can be bothered, I'll set up an online vote to let you have your say.

www.napster.com