RIAA Finally Succeeds In Having US Pressure Russia Into Shutting Down Allofmp3
from the this-will-backfire dept
For many months, US government officials have been doing the RIAA's dirty work by threatening to block Russia's admission into the WTO if it didn't shut down Allofmp3.com -- the Russian online music store that sells inexpensive songs, unencumbered by copy protection. Allofmp3 has noted that Russia's admission to the WTO of no concern to them at all, while repeating their stance that they comply with all Russian laws, and that the recording industry won't take the money they've tried to give it. While the US has put enough pressure on US credit card companies to pull the plug on using credit cards on Allofmp3, the site has continued to fight it out.However, over at Digg, someone is pointing to a letter from the US Trade Representative (warning: pdf file) that highlights agreements made between Russia and the US, including that Russia will move to shut down Allofmp3.com and sites like it. Russia has also agreed to put in place new laws within the next month that will make it so sites like Allofmp3 no longer can get rights to resell content from local collections agencies (the loophole through which the site was legal). Of course, this seems a little backwards. Shouldn't they change the law first? Then Allofmp3 will have to comply or be shut down. It's amusing (if sad) to see the agreement include the promise to shut down Allofmp3 before even the laws are changed.
It will be interesting to see what comes of this. It certainly is getting a lot more difficult for Allofmp3 to stay in business, but hopefully someone, somewhere is realizing that Allofmp3's business model represents a much bigger opportunity than a threat, seeing that people really will pay for music without copy protection, and they'll buy an awful lot if the prices are much cheaper than they are now. Of course, it's also possible that Allofmp3 (or some others) may realize that the trick is to just move out of Russia to a country that won't succumb to the RIAA in the form of US government officials. We've heard Antigua might be interested -- and they might do it with the support of the WTO, which takes that arrow out of the sling. The key point, however, is that each of these sites that the industry shuts down hasn't done much to actually deal with the changing market the industry is facing. If anything, it's often emboldened those who are championing free or cheap music offerings.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Please, TechDirt, don't lead your readers to believe that the reason Russia has been kept out of the WTO for over 12 years is because of the RIAA.
Many, many more things have contributed that you fail to mention because they have no technological reference. Those are the REAL reasons.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
I don't think we said anywhere that this was the sole reason. That's clearly not true. I'm sorry if yo uthink we implied that, but we did not. However, it was a clear checkmark on the list of things they needed to do go get in.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
the solution
Ban all tapes and cds. make them illegal (only terrorists use them) and then make all music pay per listen. I can have an internet radio that i pay $1 per song I listen to.. but it has everything.
Sadly... then the RIAA would complain about 3 people listening at a time or something..
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Business model
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
TechDirt, Short Memory...
The thing that bothers me, is that its implied that because a company is saying the right noises, that what they're saying jibes with what we have been told already.
I think it is out of sheer bias that sites like this systematically ignore the facts on issues like this. I'm an informed reader. Maybe I'm out of line for expecting news blogs to have a certain standard for accuracy and context, but it still concerns me.
Just yesterday, I noticed how a hip hop website, reporting on the recent shooting of a groom in New York reported on the story, failing to note the police offer had identified himself before the groom rammed him with his car. As a friend related more information to me, I looked back at the news site and shook my head at all the misinformation it was spreading.
>> "Shouldn't they change the law first?"This just insults the intelligence of everyone reading the blog. Where have you been??? They ALREADY changed the law. I'd hot link most of this post to all the references, but I'm sure it would be a waste of time. It hurts my head that people choose to willfully ignore the facts in favor of political agenda. I guess it happens on both sides, and the public is the one left poorer for it.
http://allofmp3.com/statement.shtml
http://www.cisac.org/web/Content.nsf/Popup?ReadForm&Page=Article&Lang=EN&Alias= Web-2005-03-ROMS
http://www.museekster.com/files/press-release%20ROMS.doc
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20061006/124334.shtml
>> If anything, it's often emboldened those who are championing free or cheap music offerings.
Is that what AllOfMp3.com is? A champion of "free music" / "cheap music"? And terrorists are really "freedom fighters"? Maybe we should all take to the streets and if we see someone selling something, grab it, copy it, and offer it to everyone for free. 2 extra points if you bust them in the face once or twice before you make off. Let's all be "champions".
--I'm all for pushing freedom, advancement, etc... but when legitimate services like eMusic are compared to illegitimate services that can't bother with proper English in their names, I think we're all screwed if we're sipping that kool-aid.
Babies and bath water, people. Babies and bath water. This is sad.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Something AOM is seemingly less interested in as of late. Also, I'm sure you mean the holy "trinity" not "duo". "DRM-Free, Bit Rate, Selection". The holy grail award goes to he who first "gets" DiBS.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
For now, as long as any money goes to the RIAA, I refuse to pay anything; p2p is my source. Free, high quality and no DRM. I'll support bands by going to shows and buying merch. And 9 times out of 10 I'll be at shows for local bands anyway, mainstream sucks!
I also don't really see why artists aren't selling their music directly. Skip the "industry" and sell it all yourself. It's easy enough, and I'm sure you can find all kinds of fans willing to help organize shows and tours.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Count Porkula
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
piratebay.org is down too
what would be interesting news would be actual court cases and their conclusions, but there are also few of those, that have conclusions anyway, download music for free, pay to see the artist live, even if you dont go
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Sorry that Russia Gave In
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Zune?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Sounds like a real good way to wind up in Guantanamo Bay these days.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I suspect...
I also don't really see why artists aren't selling their music directly. Skip the "industry" and sell it all yourself. It's easy enough, and I'm sure you can find all kinds of fans willing to help organize shows and tours.
This is one reason why indie music is catching on these days. Artists don't want to be bogged down by some record exec that does nothing but take the lion's share of profit from the band's hard work. That and it's now "hip", "cool", and what's that other word...yeah "noncomformist" to not go mainstream. And as for existing artists this would explain why so many of them (especially in the rap/hip hop arena) are trying to start their own labels. And I suspect that some of them are kinda trapped with the big labels be it by contracts (that give sole ownership of damn near everything to the label, in some cases even your stage name) and not having the money (partly because contracts that give the lion's share to some exec) or know-how to break away and start there own.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
another gem
just wanted to say that there's seems to be another one alternative: http://mp3skyline.com
i've surfed only house music and i must say: the DO have a lot. it stated that there's two millions tracks online. well. i guess it is true.
their search is outrageous - i found some rare stuff that is abscent elsewhere.
comeon check it out and let me know if you like it (just like i do) or hate it, lol!
cheers
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
best site with 3 100 000 mp3
I think this is the best site in network. http://mp3xclusive.com
Enjoy.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Is it really so?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]