Napster argued that the record companies had refused to license music for use on Napster, and its executives even now blame that refusal for its current circumstances. He said the deal would have allowed Napster to ''keep the company's assets, including its employees, together in the long term." He was joined in resigning by Shawn Fanning, who developed Napster's software as a college student and founded the company, and who was its chief technology officer; also out are Jonathan Schwartz, Napster's general counsel; David Phillips, vice-president for service and product management; and Milton Olin, executive vice-president.