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SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Napster's self-imposed deadline to start blocking the free exchange of copyrighted music files through its service loomed with users reporting no problems swapping their favorite tunes.

Searches of the top 10 songs in the Billboard Hot 100 were successful throughout the weekend, as were queries for music by longtime Napster foes Metallica and Dr. Dre. Napster fans furiously traded music, unsure if their current download might be their last.

Napster spokeswoman Karen DeMarco refused to comment on the filtering plan or any delays in implementing the software. On its Web site, Napster said the process of screening out file names, song titles and artists wouldn't be easy.

``It has involved a significant investment of time and resources,'' a statement said. ``However, we believe it is superior to shutting the service down and disbanding the community during the transition period to the new membership-based service.''

During a federal court hearing Friday on the music industry's bid to shut down the service, Napster attorney David Boies said the service would deploy the screening system over the weekend. He did not provide a specific time.

More than 11,100 people shared a total of 2.2 million files Sunday evening through just one of dozens of servers operated by Napster.

``I've downloaded a bunch of things before it ends,'' said Chavelle Wiseman, a 16-year-old user from Palo Alto, Calif. ``It's everything I've wanted to download for a while.''

The software to be installed on Napster's servers will block access to 1 million music files, Boies said. Because it will filter out variations on each song's title and artist's name, the actual number of tunes screened out will be smaller, but officials refused to say how many distinct songs will be blocked.

Napster's plan is a pre-emptive move against an injunction sought by the major record labels, which argue copyright holders and artists are not compensated for music traded on the service. Napster has argued its computers do not store actual song files but rather direct people to other users' hard drives where the music can be downloaded.

In July, U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel granted the industry's request for a preliminary injunction and ordered Napster shut down for facilitating infringement. But last month the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stayed the order pending its decision in the case.

By Friday, all parties were back in court to discuss the case when Napster changed its tune and announced plans to start blocking songs.

Amy Weiss, a spokeswoman for the Recording Industry Association of America, said Sunday the group would have no immediate comment on Napster's implementation of file blocking ``or lack thereof.''