Verizon Communications struggled Thursday to convince a skeptical judge that it should not be forced to reveal the name of a customer alleged to have downloaded more than 600 songs over the Internet. U.S. District Judge John Bates ordered Verizon last month to give the name of the alleged song-swapper to recording companies who are trying to crack down on the practice, which they believe cuts into compact-disc sales. Verizon asked Bates to suspend the order while it appeals his decision to a higher court, arguing that the appeal would be pointless if the record companies already knew the alleged infringer’s identity. Full Story