Recording Industry Still Trying To Shut Down Allofmp3.com

from the damn-them-for-selling-a-product-customers-want dept

Last week there was all sorts of concern from online music buyers, because the Russian download music store Allofmp3.com was offline for a few days. It came back, but it appears that the recording industry has stepped up efforts to get it shut down, claiming (once again) that it is does not pay the correct royalties, and even if it did, you shouldn’t be able to download songs from it outside of Russia (others contend that downloading songs from the site is no different than going to Russia, buying legal music, and then traveling back to your country of origin — though, that may be a stretch). They now say that prosecutions against the firm have begun. Of course, a year ago, they pushed the police to shut down the firm, and following an investigation, the police said no criminal charges would be filed. No matter what the legality of the situation is, in the Recording Industry’s odd focus on how downloading is evil, they’ve apparently never stopped to recognize that Allofmp3.com completely disproves the basic point of their argument on copy protection. They’ve said for years, that without copy protection, no one would buy downloadable music, since it would all just be available for free. The fallacy, of course, is that most of that music is already available for free — so the only thing copy protection is doing is limiting actual customers (that is, lowering the value of the music). What companies like Allofmp3.com and eMusic have shown is that there’s a real market for unencumbered digital music at a reasonable price. While the industry likes to assume the worst of its customers, it’s clear that many people are perfectly happy to pay a reasonable price for the music they want — knowing that it doesn’t limit them and lock them into a proprietary solution. So rather than learning from a perfect example of giving the customers what they want, and seeing that they’re willing to pay for it, the industry spends all this time and effort working to shut it down.


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Comments on “Recording Industry Still Trying To Shut Down Allofmp3.com”

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101 Comments
Josh says:

Re: Re:

The differences are pretty big. Allofmp3 allows you to buy music and albums based on file size and you get the song in the mp3 format. You can buy an entire albums for less than $2. Where as itunes gives you a proprietary music file and each song is $ .99 and albums run you $9.99.

For the cost of 2 songs on itunes you can buy the entire CD on Allofmp3. If you increase the bit rate, it makes the files larger and the cost goes up, but doesn’t come close to hitting itunes prices for an entire album.

muntz says:

Re: Re: Re:

i wish itunes would offer different bitrates too. As far as allofmp3 giving me mp3s, who the hell buys that crappy format these days. i buy the same one that itunes offers (m4a) but at a higher bitrate. even vbr files are better then mp3.

just so you know, no artist is making any kind of royalty off of allofmp3, nothing they couldn’t make asking for handouts for a few hours in an urban area.

Anonymous Coward says:

The difference is HOW MUCH royalties are paid. With iTunes that cost is negotiated with the label. With AllOfMP3 it is a rate defined by Russian law, is miniscule, and the labels have no say in it.

So, basically its Russia that decides how much any given artist gets for their work, not the artist or label or RIAA.

Unfortunately I do think AllOfMP3 is a raw deal, and hey yes its a product I want but it certainly isnt fair for artists and labels in the US to spend millions recording and promoting a CD and then having an internet site sell the MP3s un-DRM’d for an irrelevant royalty which doesnt reflect the product quality or demand.

Ben says:

Re: cost?

it doesnt represent demand because its DIGITAL. costs nothing to reproduce, sure the original creation cost was there but its not nearly “millions” to create music. not with software and the price of equipment coming down. sure it may cost millions to promote music, but when you have to pay radio stations to play a song what do you expect.

Michael (profile) says:

Re: Re:

I smell an RIAA troll posting messages in Tech Dirt.

If the recording industry wants to increase their profits they need to do is just one thing:

=> Stop treating their customers like criminals, end the lawsuits, stop trying to kill P2P, and end the use of DRM forever!

Then and only then will they begin to really make profits, but if they continue on their current course they will eventually become the cause of their own demise.

Plain and simple.

truth machine says:

Re: Re:

It certainly isnt fair for artists and labels in the US to spend millions recording and promoting a CD and then having an internet site sell the MP3s un-DRM’d for an irrelevant royalty which doesnt reflect the product quality or demand.

Bullpucky. AllOfMP3 reflects the market, whereas the iTunes reflects prices coerced via governmental force driven by legislators paid bribes by lobbyists. Anyone who claims to believe in free markets but sides with RIAA is a complete fraud and huckster.

no more drama please says:

Re: Re:

I understand your point. The point is the record company already rapes the consumers AND the artists for millions. And as far as the artists go, they aren’t losing enough to worry about. The people downloading from allofmp3 wouldn’t go pay the money to buy the cd or pay for the royalties…they would say screw it and find a way to get it free..or not get itat all. I don’t have the money to go buy a cd or download one for a lousy 2 dollars less than it would cost at best buy. So I DON’T spend the money. However, sometimes I really want a song. When that happens I go spend $0.17 at allofmp3… if I couldn’t I wouldn’t buy it.

ThoughtCancer says:

Sour Grapes

Doesn’t anyone else think that the “free market” and the “global economy” and all that BS only works for rich multinationals and not for the ordinary guy like us? I mean, companies buy there crap overseas and do business overseas all the friggin’ time, so they can take advantage of things like cheaper prices, cheaper workers, no labor or environmental laws, etc. But when we the common folk use the EXACT SAME REASONING to buy goods from another country, all of a sudden the corporations freak out and want to shut us down. Tell me how music lovers buying products from another country is any different than when corporations do business in other countries?

It’s not illegal to buy music from a store in Russia and import it here. There are no laws being broken. Allofmp3 was the PERFECT example of the Global Market working as it should. We were able to get a commodity for a cheaper price, legally, and we did so, just like when Dell can get a tech support guy in India for 3 bucks a day or whatever. When are we going to stop taking this bullshit and decide whether the “free market”, the “global economy”, and all that other crap is for everyone, or just for the rich who can afford to buy their own politicians?

Who’s with me?

Brad Eleven (profile) says:

Re: Sour Grapes

I’m totally with you. Right the F on.

Consider also the US Congress’ spate of indignance over one of their offices being searched with a warrant. Funny thing–when their own privileges are threatened, they rise up quickly. When it’s our *rights*, they have better things to do. Like enjoying their privileges. The ones that they, themselves, have set up for themselves.

I suppose that when you have too much money, it doesn’t readily occur to you to share it. I guess there’s some irresistible pull that forces you to keep trying to get more. Money. And privileges.

elad says:

Re: Sour Grapes

Right on! Also big companies never hesitate to replace workers with new technology, but when new tech threatens their business, they hang on tooth and nail. Record companies are now irrelevant. Music can now be recorded, produced and distributed without them and for much cheaper. They are nothing but pimps and shakedown artists. Today it costs basically nothing to distibute music, that is what it shoud cost! As for greedy artists, they should be happy, like thousands of musicians would be, just that people listen to them. It didn’t hurt the Grateful Dead to give it away.

Minshi says:

Do the artists really care?

Try and remember the Artists are getting nothing for online –sales- no matter who does the sale; the RIAA gets most of the money. I forget when it was, but at some point the RIAA decided that online music should be licensed like movie to a soundtrack, meaning the recording artists see only a single lump sum, and all profits from the online sale are the RIAAs. Now, the RIAA might have backed down from trying to enforce this, or actually stepped down, but for some reason I do not think so.

Ben says:

Re: Do the artists really care?

I heard recently about a band, don’t remember who but its a pretty famous rock band, having a dispute with their label about how much they are supposed to receive from online sales. they were saying that their contrat stated $.50 per download and the label was saying something like $.03 per sale or something weak like that.

Steve says:

Re: Do the artists really care?

Thats rubbish. From allofmp3.com they get no money – from itunes they get around 5-10%, depending on who you ask. 5-10% of millions of sales is far better than 0% of million of sales. But hey, I just De-DRM the music that streams from Napster…. untracable, and technically covered under fair use rights. 🙂

Yakov (profile) says:

This is funny. Unless you all are living in a fantasy world, and haven’t figured out that the ONLY way allofmp3.com exists is because it is mobbed up and the Russian government officials are on the take, so are the russian cops. So I wish RIAA all the luck in the world trying to fight the Russian mob. First this is a fight they can’t win, and will end badly for the two morons running the RIAA. Best case scenario (for the RIAA) is that the status quo is mantained. Worst case — well many scenes from the Godfather come to mind — ohh, and the Russian mob has proven to be a lot more vicious than the Casa Nostra ever was — good luck the RIAA — watching a bully fight wind mills is always fun — very different than suing 12 year old gilrs.

tom golstch says:

Re: Re:

Yes, if it is in Russia, it is most definitely controlled by the “mob”.

We all know this from watching law and order and csi crime shows.

I am quite sure that the “mob” involved in narco tracffic etc., ad

naseum, is staying awake at night counting the tens of dollars they are getting from allofmp3. Why not post that allofmp3 is somehow involved

in kiddie porno, like Jack valenti stated at a congressional hearing that mp3 sites are riddled with kiddie porno, or that downloading mp3’s for free encourages alien lifeforms a backdoor to take over the planet

earth.

quantumpsych says:

i’m with ThoughtCancer 100%. the labels are just advertising firms, and their ad’s are singles. we like the ad, we buy the product in the form of CD’s and merch. bands get their money from shows but the labels are changing contract structure to take care of that little “problem”.

so in summation, FUCK THE LABELS… no one would shed a tear if they all went bankrupt. they stifle creative expression FAR more often than they allow it to thrive.

allofmp3.com is a God-send and yes, a perfect example of when free-market works for the everyday consumer.

AZRecords says:

Re: Re:

I run a small independent label and these Russian mp3 sites have stolen our artists music and are selling it for pennies and we have been fighting to get it down with no luck.

Small labels going bankrupt is bad you moron they are the ones that get little known bands out to be heard.

All of you idiots want to pay nothing for the music and don’t realize that it costs quite a bit of money to make. We are trying to make a fucking living and produce good new music for the fucking people that want to hear music. With sites like that not paying us royalties we are losing money. With small record labels you hardly make any profit on cds.

quantumpsych says:

i’m with ThoughtCancer 100%. the labels are just advertising firms, and their ad’s are singles. we like the ad, we buy the product in the form of CD’s and merch. bands get their money from shows but the labels are changing contract structure to take care of that little “problem”.

so in summation, FUCK THE LABELS… no one would shed a tear if they all went bankrupt. they stifle creative expression FAR more often than they allow it to thrive.

allofmp3.com is a God-send and yes, a perfect example of when free-market works for the everyday consumer.

Ben says:

why selling a product people want isn't always rig

I’m all for cheap/free music, and im with ThoughtCancer 100% but the statement “damn-them-for-selling-a-product-customers-want” doesnt always apply. there are people who want to buy drugs, im sure TechDirt wouldn’t approve of that… Or would you Mike?

Hah, just kidding around alittle Mike, but seriously, ThoughtCancer makes a great point, why can’t we buy cheaper in another country to get cheaper products just like the Corps do?

Jamie says:

The fight isn't about Piracy

This example just goes to prove what many have been saying all along. The fight against online music isn’t about piracy, it’s about control. As long as the big labels, represented by the RIAA, don’t control the system they will fight it. So even if they can make more money by embracing online music, they won’t do it, because then the artists and the fans might not need the them anymore.

Chineese Tradesman says:

Calling the kettle black

It’s only a matter of time before someone in china opens up a store like this. The RIAA doesn’t dare try to take on China with it selling DVD’s, Music CD’s, and any other type of media made in other countries for pennys. You can buy movies for 1 buck…. Take on China First RIAA before you take on Russia. You’ll most likely get your nose broke in Russia and thrown in jail in china if you try this. Your a bunch of money hungry bastards… Sorry had to say that. The only way musicians make money is when they go on tour. Not through crappy music sales from Itunes or CD’s.

Kayne (user link) says:

Loyal customer

As a long-time customer, I’m happy to see that AllofMp3.com continues to flourish despite the efforts of the RIAA. Most of the music I purchase isn’t produced where I live, and I refuse to support a system that prosecutes it’s own customers while producing vapid, meaningless “hits”. I won’t purchase DRM-encumbered music because it doesn’t respect my usage model – my music, wherever I happen to be, whenever I want to listen.

Tyson (user link) says:

RIAA Sucks

i support AllOfMP3 100% for what they are doing, its fully legal under russian laws and there not milking there members at all, i also give major propz to them for being an awsome music service, im sure they make a nice ammount of cash but they aint money hungery! im so sick of hearing things about the RIAA trying to change other countrys laws so they can make more money, it just goes to show how money hungry they truly are, they can never get enough of it! also i wish the RIAA/MPAA and any other stupid association like that to realize that U.S laws dont rule and or think there better than other countrys laws just cause there the USA, Remember ur not the only country on this peice of rock people!

Brad says:

Why Arent They Trying To Shut Down eMusic.com Too?

If you get the premium membership to eMusic.com you get 90 downloads for 20 bucks. This equates to each track being worth about 22 cents which is roughly the same price allofmp3 charges for a high bitrate track.

No one is beating down eMusic’s door trying to shut them down. Why arent they? The only difference between eMusic and allofmp3 is that eMusic caps you at 90 downloads a month (Which is plenty!!) I honestly cant figure out what trouble everyone has with allofmp3.

Ken (user link) says:

Re: Why Arent They Trying To Shut Down eMusic.com

The RIAA doesn’t go after eMusic.com because eMusic doesn’t carry any artists under RIAA control. eMusic only carries indie labels and artists. Pray that artists will get smarter and stop signing with the big labels and put their art on eMusic. I think it will start to happen soon. Maybe some of those Canadian artists that hate the RIAA or CRIA.

Brain washed says:

Brain washer pop culture

The problem is with the RIAA nazi tactics. We forget to realize the crap that you are paying for buy purchacing and MP3 online ie. compressed crap no case, no cd, no cover art, no packaging, no trucks to ship, no sales person etc.

Also a store bought cd is $13 with on average 10 -15 songs

You do the math and tell me 99 cents is a good deal and ill let the NSA help me pay my phone bills since they are using my phone number too. 😉

Rich says:

I seriously hope you're not really all this dumb

You schmucks probably don’t realise this, but the greater majority of the artists don’t get a dime out of allofmp3’s sales. At least with iTunes and Napster the artists are *actually* recieving some money, rather than it going straight into the Russian government’s pockets.

Sure, I don’t approve of the RIAA’s tactics, but the reason why they are trying to shut them down is the whole reason why the RIAA started up: to protect the rights of the record companies, and therefore the artist.

I find it even more hilarious you think that 99 cents is set due to the RIAA – you’re forgetting the money goes into the record companies pockets, not the RIAA’s. The only thing the RIAA do is battle for the Recording companies in a law sense.

The physical difference between allofmp3 and downloading it from a p2p site is you’re paying money to them. Really. The artist is STILL not seeing a dime of your hard-earned cash.

Jim Hill says:

Re: I seriously hope you're not really all this du

Here’s the problem: you might be painting an accurate picture.

But the record companies have told so many lies, and screwed so many artists, that no one will take their or their industry association’s word for anything. If they *really* had a strong ethical position, they could simply open their books and show where the various pieces of the iTunes $0.99 goes. They could put a link up, do business transparently, and permanently, completely shut down the doubters.

That would cost them a lot of money. They don’t want to do that. They want to lie and screw people and pay no penalty and have people still trust them. They’re lying in the filthy bed they made and complaining that it stinks.

Maybe the russian mob really are making money off $0.07 song downloads. Maybe the profit margins on $0.07 songs really are high enough to attract mafia-style criminals. If that’s true, then, when you compare that to the $0.99 price at iTMS, and the even higher prices the RIAA tried to demand do you have any questions?

Here, fill in the blanks:

  1. $0.99 download
  2. ______ cost of sales
  3. ______ insane, criminal profits stolen from RIAA members
  4. $0.07 sum of (2) and (3) above.
  5. $0.92 per download stolen from the artists.

If the RIAA and their shills and plants and toadies are actually telling the truth, the artists are seeing well over ten times the criminally insane profits those bad russians at allofmp3 are reaping.

But as I say, nobody with two neurons to rub together believes you.

truth machine says:

Re: I seriously hope you're not really all this du

I don’t approve of the RIAA’s tactics, but the reason why they are trying to shut them down is the whole reason why the RIAA started up: to protect the rights of the record companies, and therefore the artist.

No, you RIAA troll, the RIAA started up to protect the INTERESTS of the record companies, and their interests are to make as much money as possible, with no regard for either artists or consumers.

record producer says:

Re: I seriously hope you're not really all this du

The RIAA IS owned by the record labels. Read their charter well on http://www.riaa.com. Although they try to hide it, it’s there. It is NOT a charity or public foundation. The RIAA is a chartered corporation, period.

btw, I’ve been a record producer for over 30 years, a former RIAA ‘member’ and know very well of which I speak. I now produce and market directly for musicians. ‘Nuff said!

I don't want the RIAA to sue me says:

Why AllOfMp3 is so much better than iTunes

AllOfMp3 downloads are not copy-protected, which I like because it makes it easier for me to put my own music on any of my own devices that I want. They also allow you to download songs in a multitude of audio file formats and bitrates. That is one reason why they charge based on sizes, since diffenet audio formats and bitrates produce different file sizes. I would gladly pay more for their service. Why can’t the RIAA try to negotiate with AllOfMp3.com to make their service “more legal”?

Coocoo says:

Is not the RIAA an arm of the recording industry controlled by said industry. Then would it not be true that when they tried to strongarm Apple to raise its prices and make more popular music an even higher price then normal music, due to the grand piracy (Propaganda) and their small earning on internet music sales “Laugh” that they are using the RIAA as a price check tool with threats of legal action

SHOW ME THE BLING BLING YO

Better quality product more choice LOSSLESS format at low low prices

The ALLOFMP3 structure wold make a killing for them if they would fallow the same setup and put money towards the artist (NOT Hillary Duff and her alike no talent blowup dolls ) and cut out the Roaches and fatcats

Coocoo says:

Is not the RIAA an arm of the recording industry controlled by said industry. Then would it not be true that when they tried to strongarm Apple to raise its prices and make more popular music an even higher price then normal music, due to the grand piracy (Propaganda) and their small earning on internet music sales “Laugh” that they are using the RIAA as a price check tool with threats of legal action

SHOW ME THE BLING BLING YO

Better quality product more choice LOSSLESS format at low low prices

The ALLOFMP3 structure wold make a killing for them if they would fallow the same setup and put money towards the artist (NOT Hillary Duff and her alike no talent blowup dolls ) and cut out the Roaches and fatcats

Economic Darwinism Will Trump those Whiny RIAA swi says:

because it just will... that's all.

People will decide with the dollars that they spend what model they deem to support. I for one would rather see the Artist earn their better dollar through live performances. It’s a tangible service – if you want to watch and listen pay for admittance. Ever since the record people realized that a bottle of liquor and a hooker could ply an old bluesman from his sacred hymns, they have made it a science to rip off the artists, and then later, sell us marketing pitches disguised as music. I say let the RIAA have their boy – bands let them charge $4.99 for songs like …”Girl, You Make Me Wanna Feel Your Love Forever And A Day OOh Yeahh!”. Let 12 year olds who dont know any better support this trendy trash. A day will come however when no one wants to have anything to do with that soulless backwash. And then The RIAA will take their rightful place on the streetcorner eating out of dumpsters and whistling at passersby looking for an easy five or ten bucks.

Economic Darwinism Will Trump those Whiny RIAA swi says:

because it just will... that's all.

People will decide with the dollars that they spend what model they deem to support. I for one would rather see the Artist earn their better dollar through live performances. It’s a tangible service – if you want to watch and listen pay for admittance. Ever since the record people realized that a bottle of liquor and a hooker could ply an old bluesman from his sacred hymns, they have made it a science to rip off the artists, and then later, sell us marketing pitches disguised as music. I say let the RIAA have their boy – bands let them charge $4.99 for songs like …”Girl, You Make Me Wanna Feel Your Love Forever And A Day OOh Yeahh!”. Let 12 year olds who dont know any better support this trendy trash. A day will come however when no one wants to have anything to do with that soulless backwash. And then The RIAA will take their rightful place on the streetcorner eating out of dumpsters and whistling at passersby looking for an easy five or ten bucks.

Tim Arview (user link) says:

This again?

You know, it’s getting to be a rather tired rant when you go on and on about “the industry.” Most people on the Internet are opposed to copy protection, so such an article is rarely going to be contested.

So what’s the point? Why post an article complaining about something most people don’t like.

“I don’t like crime.” Hey, that’d make a great article! Come on. Find something new to talk about or don’t talk at all.

Davis says:

Ugh.

They have a point about travelling to Russia.

Imagine you are a TCP packet, you travel to your local router, then to your ISP’s menagerie of routers, through an array of networks, arrive at a Russian mp3 website’s network, place an order, and return home the same way with the goods. That’s exactly like travelling to Russia. You just did it faster.

I Buy Music says:

Re: It's how it should be

you pay about $16-19. Lossless = CD

You are absolutely correct. It’s also plausible to say that by being DRM free it is essential as if you own the CD since you can rip it or play it anywhere you want. iTunes is a ripoff but at least they are trying. Hopefully demand for sites/services like AllOfMp3 will force a change in the pay download industry that will better server customers. Until then keep downloading…

gkiefferjfk2 says:

RIAA

There are some things that i will fork over the $$ for.

BUT the way music downloading is today for the pricy pay services

and they have HUGE LIMITS… I will forever grab the FREE MUSIC every way possible. THIS GOOD – OLD BOY’s internet broadcasting will still get FREE no matter how.

PLUS if you really think about it…. RIAA SUPPORTS FOR MONOPOLY RADIO STATIONS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

RESULTS: If they do not like a song = THEY BAN IT.

If they feel it isn’t in the right language or it’s naughty language = THEY BAN IT.

If they feel the music is not in good taste [ie pokes fun at certain people for sending many others to war] = THEY BAN IT.

INDEPENDENT INTERNET RADIO = If i like it… NO MATTER WHAT IT IS…. It gets played no matter what.

I DO NOT ACCEPT PAYOLA or anything else that will ever interfere with my enjoyment to broadcast FREE MUSIC on the internet.

[[[If you can’t afford to buy the HUGE RESTRICTIVE MUSIC you don’t need to be broadcasting it THUS only those radio stations that have the HUGE ENOUGH $$ BUDGET can afford

to buy all of their music and stay online / on the air]]]

NOW THINK ABOUT THAT ONE…..

DJ says:

Freemarket/Globilization Misunderstanding

The prior postings commenting that allofmp3 is just like outsourcing or freemarket capitalism misses a fundamental point about intellectual property. The whole premise behind IP protection is that you don’t have a freemarket or, otherwise, the IP has virtually no resale value to the person who created it. Otherwise, the only $ value of a work of art or software is its reproduction cost. A totally free IP market doesn’t result in an efficient market; it results in all IP being free (or just being sold for a nominal value to cover the medium costs, i.e. the cost of the CD-R cotaining the bootlegged copy of Windows and maybe a few bucks to the guy with the street stall on Khoa San Rd). In comparison, a free global market for goods and services (computers from China, tech support from India) often results in a more efficient allocation of resources.

That being said, I despise the RIAA and think the industry has done a terrible job with handling DLing. I also think the entire major label music distribution industry is a cancer that I hope the internet kills.

Some sort of balance needs to be struck to protect artists, while avoiding a freemarket in IP.

|333173|3|_||3 says:

Whose Law Anyway

Maybe the UN or someone else should decide whose law an internet sale operates under, since if sokmeone in coujntry A, whom is a citizen of Country B, is connected through an ISPs server in Country C, while the ISP is located in Country D, to a company’s server in country E, while the company is besed in country F, with a bank account in Country G, and the goods delivered to anaddress in country H owned by a resident of Coujntry I, there are nine countries involved. This could keep the lawyers busy for years to decide on the implications, especially with the various traeties between countries.

J M says:

Missing the Point

I still think a lot of you are missing the point.

Yes. We all hate the big bad record companies that really are ripping off the artists. BUT… you still need to recognize that when you download from AllOfMp3.com and the Torrent sites, etc., you are basically involving yourself in some portion of the theft that is being committed.

The artist is not going to see any money when you download that song. Even though the record company is ripping off the artist and only paying them 3 cents for an album sale from a store or from iTunes, etc., its still a transaction the artist agreed to at some point.

Basically, downloading that track from AllOfMp3.com is the same as walking into a liquor store and walking out with a candy bar you didn’t pay for.

Now… given that… its a moral question you have to reconcile with when you download for free or from the Russian Mob for a small fee. If you don’t believe you’re going to hell by committing this crime, however few people might be harmed by it, then that’s your business and your dilemma.

Blackadar says:

Re: Missing the Point

Sorry, I reject this completely. Simply put, AllofMP3 has been found to be legal in Russia. I’m buying a product, produced legally, from another country. Period. There’s no theft whatsoever. Just because Russian copyright law isn’t the same as US copyright law doesn’t mean I’m bound to follow US law whenever and wherever I purchase a product.

As much as the RIAA wants to complain (and their apologists), this is their problem, not mine. It’s their responsiblity to change the laws in Russia, not mine. When they get the laws changed, if AllofMP3 doesn’t comply, then I’ll stop using the service. Until then, I’ll enjoy globalization working in my favor for once.

Blackadar says:

Re: Missing the Point

Sorry, I reject this completely. Simply put, AllofMP3 has been found to be legal in Russia. I’m buying a product, produced legally, from another country. Period. There’s no theft whatsoever. Just because Russian copyright law isn’t the same as US copyright law doesn’t mean I’m bound to follow US law whenever and wherever I purchase a product.

As much as the RIAA wants to complain (and their apologists), this is their problem, not mine. It’s their responsiblity to change the laws in Russia, not mine. When they get the laws changed, if AllofMP3 doesn’t comply, then I’ll stop using the service. Until then, I’ll enjoy globalization working in my favor for once.

DJ says:

Re: Re: Missing the Point

I understand what you’re trying to say, but it is actually illegal under US law to import copyrighted or patented works even if those works are produced in countries in which it is legal. Otherwise copyrights and patents wouldn’t mean much if all you had to do was produce them on soil outside the US and then you were free to import them into US consumers.

Danni B. says:

One other thing to consider...

IF Itunes and others would be bothered to give us access to other places music, more people would be continuing to download from them. However, how many times have any of you tried to get a song only to have it come up and say you can’t access Itunes in England or elsewhere?

Many of us are ecclectic music acquiring critters. I love music from everywhere. Some of my greatest discoveries have been from another country.

I buy CD’s for my favorite bands here to support them. I use Itunes for some things and I like the features of being able to acquire great music from other cultures via the Russian site. If they want more then they need to give more.

Yay for capitalism!

drumdr says:

INTERESTING

Speaking about Copywrite laws…

How about Wal-Mart selling DVD’s? I purchased a DVD, (Dante’s Peak) at Wal-Mart the other day, read the back, and found a misspelling of the word “devestating”. The DVD is labled with Universal Studios’ logo and copywrite stamp.

Now tell me Universal is producing a sucky product, with misspelled words on the back cover! I don’t think so. So Wal-Mart is purchasing illegal, reproduced products from another country, breaking the copywrite reproduction law, and selling them in America! If they can do this, why can’t ALLOFMP3.com do what they’re doing? Freakin Retarded. I hope Universal Studios sues Wally-Worlds pants off.

Kontro (user link) says:

I found the biggest mp3 site!

Hi all! I found the biggest mp3 site!
And name of this mp3 site is http://justmusicstore.com/ Tons of rare mp3 music. Many mp3 mix and mp3 remix. No DRM. Price start from 0.11$ About 2 000 000 mp3’s online. Recommended. I recommended this site to all my friend. By girlfriend also use this site. Best.
MP3 Forever

xesive says:

I’ve discovered site iomoio.com, which I guess is analog of allOfmp3.com. Their pricing strategy is like $0.15 per track no matter what size and bit rate it is.
When you register you get $0.30 deposited to your account as they say “to check out the quality of our services for free”.
Also they give 100% bonuses on deposits made by Credit Card starting from 20 USD (pay $20 get $40 added to your balance; $30 = $60 etc.).
Other rather eye-catching thing is their “Daily Bonus” scheme, they say; make a payment for e.g. $20 and get $0.02 added to your balance daily, make another payment of $30 and your bonus amount will increase to $0.05 daily.
Concerning legality of this site: The availability over the Internet of the Iomoio.com materials is authorized by the license # 33/3M-06 of the Rightholders Federation for Collective Copyright Management of Works Used Interactively (Russian Organization which they pay Royalties to).
Ok, their services might be legal for Russians, but is it legal to use their services in US, UK and other European countries? Actually yes it does mean they are legal in the US and UK, in that music you download is considered legally licensed for personal use, and you can’t legally be prevented from purchasing in this way.
This is because of the Berne convention as administered by the WIPO, and WTO requirements.
I quote “…any country that is a signatory of the convention is awarded the same rights in all other
Countries that are signatories to the Convention as they allow their own nationals, as well as any rights granted by the Convention”
The pigopolist record companies don’t like it because it cuts them out of the loop – the money paid for licenses goes directly to artists! Therefore they do a ‘Bush’ and lie through their teeth even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary in the hope that you believe them and use their preferred overpriced and DRM crippled services.
Correct me if I’m wrong.

robert Henke says:

Re: Re:

THE MONEY GOES DIRECTLY TO THE ARTIST ????

Are you nuts ???

All i find there are bad encodings of my music and i do not get one single dime for it and no other artist i know?

And if you think i am one of the big bad guys have a look at my website. You will not find any bad record industry there, just someone who knows the shit from the inside….

If all you are interested in is stealing music and support criminals, go on and buy there. But do not tell anyone about the BAD RECORD INDUSTRY and ALL THE MONEY GOES TO THE ARTISTS. It is just a damn lie.

Robert Henke
http://www.monolake.de

fruit cakes... says:

It's fair, It's Not Fair

Artists may only be getting a small portion of the money that they (Sadly) should be getting since it IS their work and they are entitled to the money… but if the IRAA takes allofmp3.com down totally, think of HOW MANY people will switch to P2P utilities like limewire…
That little amount they make is better than NOTHING!
Frankly I do fell bad “ripping off” these rappers and singers…
I mean, not because they NEED the money, but because they are essentiall getting cheater…
But if you think about it, half these singers came from the ghetto (as they claim so boldly in their songs) and made absolutly nothing there…
Heck, 2 million may not be as good as 20 million $ but its better than 6.25 an hour…

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