The cofounder of a Web site that offers free streamed music from top artists said he’s determined to operate his service legally despite menacing overtures from Universal Music Group.

The Web site, Deezer.com, based in France, has been signing up users at a fast pace thanks to its user-friendly interface and streamed music from thousands of artists including Maroon 5, Rihanna, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

The site offers about 200,000 songs and has signed up 300,000 registered users in the past few months, cofounder Jonathan Benassaya said on Monday. Most of the users are in France, he said, although the site is available in 16 languages.

The record labels have been less enthusiastic. Universal Music, a division of Vivendi Universal SA, said on Friday that Deezer.com’s use of its music was illegal and that it would take “all measures necessary” to get its music removed from the Web site, according to press reports.

Benassaya insisted on Monday the service is legal, however– or at least, that it will be soon.