US threatens Russia over AllofMP3.com
p2pnet news | Music:- Russian music download site AllofMP3.com is again defying the US government.
Russian judge Yekaterina Sharapova threw out copyright infringement allegations levelled at the site’s Denis Kvasov by the big four organised music cartel’s IFPI and, “AllofMP3.com is on its way back,” posted p2pnet more than a week ago.
Now trade officials in the discredited Bush administration are once again threatening Russia with the WTO unless it does something to permanently close down the tiny Russian site in the interests of the corporate entertainment cartels..
“I don’t see Russia entering the WTO with sites like Allofmp3.com up and running,” CNET News has US trade spokesman Sean Spicer stating unequivocally, echoing his boss, US Trade Representative Susan Schwab.
“You’ve been singled out for special attention by the US administration,” said p2pnet to all of MP3.com in an interview.
“How does it feel to be a principal target of the American anti-p2p effort?” – we asked.
“It is disappointing that United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab completely and deliberately mischaracterized AllofMP3.com,” was the response
Furthermore, it is irresponsible to use AllofMP3.com as a negotiating instrument in an attempt to extract concessions from Russia in return for US support for accession to the World Trade Organization.
AllofMP3.com is a Russian business that is in complete compliance with Russian law.
Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG claim AllofMP3.com’s assertion that it complies with Russian laws counts for nothing.
“The company distributes digital downloads without the permission of copyright holders,” says CNET, going on:
“Allofmp3.com has claimed that it sends royalties to a Russia-based artist’s group, but the Recording Industry Assoc. of America doesn’t recognize it.”
Meanwhile, “Russia’s hopes of entering the WTO by the end of the year are evaporating,” says story, adding:
Think of the WTO as an exclusive club, one that Russia desperately wants to join.
The WTO is made up of 150 countries that have agreed on rules and regulations regarding trade. This makes selling goods or services overseas easier for companies from member countries, Spicer said.
The attack on AllofMP3.com is an element of the all-fronts, all-out war being waged principally by the entertainment industry which is attacking anybody and anything which looks even remotely like competition.
The RIAA is suing its masters’ own customers in a bid to force them away from the independent download sites and free P2P networks, where 99.9% of the online music trade currently takes place.
Backed by the Bush government, the ultimate goal of the studios and labels is to gain complete control of how product is distributed online, and by whom; and, to turn customers such as students, who are being called file sharing criminals and thieves, into compliant consumers tuned in to corporate offerings alone.
AllofMP3.com stands as a beacon offering affordable music downloads in the face of over-priced corporate ‘product’ and highly restrictive practices.
Also See:
p2pnet – AllofMP3.com back online, August 20, 2007
CNET News – U.S. to Russia: Allofmp3.com closes door on your WTO chances, August 29, 2007
singled out for special attention – p2pnet talks to AllofMP3.com, May 28, 2007
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August 30th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
An arguement between private companies should not be the basis of determing if a company can join the WTO.
And its not like the US follows the WTO either…
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20070823/194516.shtml
August 30th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Russia does not need WTO to sell its goods to the world markets.
They won’t be full WTO members anyways, and will have to make a lot of concessions. The best way is to develop rockets and other arms, so that West cannot dictate their ways.
August 30th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
i don’t think the USTR’s ’strategy’ will work – there is no real ‘pro-WTO’ lobby in Russia right now, and the most powerful economic players are actually against Russia’s entry.
August 31st, 2007 at 8:09 am
I posted this same comment in another thread, but it is relevant here as well …
” But so far, the RIAA has not made a real investment in researching how to get music to customers in a way that pleases everyone. ”
It’s actually very easy to do this, and make a LOT of money.
A PROVEN system already exists.
It’s inexpensive, easy to use, gives the customer a LOT of choice and
control over quality and format .. Aaaaannd it has a system in place to pay license
fees to the collectives.
It’s the system AllOfMp3 uses.
It works .. people pay.
People pay because the price is right and it’s easy for them.
People pay willingly aaaand no DRM.
So why .. since AllOfMp3 pays all of the legal licensing fees to the Russian equivalent of
SoundExchange are the labels so heel bent on shutting it down ?
If the Labels set up their own version .. AllOfMp3 will be a solidly established competition.
That’s why.
In addition, if the labels use a system that too closely resembles the AllOfMp3 system, they
may have to pay a fee to use the same system.
There is a model system in place.
They just won’t acknowledge it.
Further proof that it is control they are really after.
August 31st, 2007 at 1:33 pm
“It’s actually very easy to do this.”
Don’t give these pigs idea. We expect them to be out of business in a couple of year. let them die!
September 4th, 2007 at 8:09 am
Well, I guess the RIAA/MPAA could order us to NUKE em to protect their content. It seems a littel severe to me, but I guess it would end that problem.