The popular music-swapping site, Kazaa, used by college students all over the country, is facing what could be the end.

Kazaa provides a free swap service to approximately 21 million Americans.

U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson gave record companies and movie studios permission to sue Sharman Networks Ltd, the parent company of the Australian-based corporation in January.

The lawsuit may be the largest in a series of online piracy lawsuits started by record and movie companies.

Sharman Networks had argued that it could not be sued in the United States because it is based in Australia and incorporated in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu.

The music and film industries didn’t sue in Australia because they did not think that Australian courts were as sympathetic to copyright infringement as as U.S. courts.

In a 46- page ruling, Wilson said that Sharman Networks is subject to U.S. copyright laws because of its numerous business dealings in California.

The ruling may be detrimental for Kazaa, possibly resulting in its end.

Kazaa is one of the largest online sites of both music and video swapping.

Kelly Larabee, a Sharman Networks spokesperson, said, “We fully expect to prevail on the merits.”

Despite Kazaa’s positive outlook, the lawsuit may be the beginning of the end for Kazaa., just as similar lawsuits shut down Napster and Morphous.

Kazaa may be forced to become some sort of pay site, or possibly even close down.