Los Angeles attorney Howard E. King, who is representing the artists, two weeks ago asked 20 colleges to stop students from Internet access to the program, which lets users share MP3 music files.

As of Friday’s deadline, none of those replying had agreed to the block, King said.

Institution officials told King they were concerned about copyright infringement but more concerned about maintaining access to information.

“Given the fact that Napster technology may be used for legitimate purposes and that the university does not monitor the use of its electronic systems, we see no justification for a blanket block on access to Napster technology,” University of California General Counsel James E. Holst said in a reply to King’s request.

UC officials compared blocking Napster to removing a copying machine because it can be used to reproduce written works illegally.

The response disappointed King. “I think it’s disingenuous to profess to be great protectors of intellectual property yet at the same time allow your facilities to be used for something that everybody knows is thievery of intellectual property,” he said.

In Redwood City, Napster Inc. released a statement saying it was “pleased with the universities decision to allow student to continue to participate in the Napster community.”

Metallica and Doctor Dre have both sued Napster and the company is also the target of a suit by the recording industry. That case is set to go before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Oct. 2.

Other universities turning down the request include the Georgia Institute of Technology, Princeton, Stanford and Duke universities, the University of Michigan, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

King said he doesn’t plan any immediate legal action against the universities.

“I think I’ll see if I can maybe educate them,” he said.