Punk band drops free web album plans

Punk band The Offspring has backtracked on its plans to give away its forthcoming album on the web, avoiding a legal battle with Sony.

At the beginning of the month, the group said it would make its entire album - Conspiracy of One - available free of charge on the internet in October, prior to the album's release on 14 November.

However, Sony, the parent company of the band's record label, Columbia Records, is understood to have asked the band to cancel the promotion.

A spokeswoman for Sony confirmed that The Offspring will now only make one song - Original Prankster - available for download, two weeks prior to the album's release date. According to US reports, a legal battle was averted when both sides agreed not to pursue lawsuits. Sony was understood to be satisfied with the results.

The Offspring is known to support music sharing system Napster, claiming that MP3 is a "vital and necessary means to promote music and foster better relationships with its fans". The group has even sold unauthorised Napster merchandise from its website.

The Offspring's position places it in direct conflict with Sony, which is one of the big five record labels suing Napster over a copyright battle.

When the original download was announced, The Offspring also claimed that anyone downloading tracks from its website would be entered into a sweepstake to win $1m. It is understood that the prize money, donated by the group, will still be awarded, with the winner due to be announced on MTV on 14 November.