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Randman · Feb 23, 2005, 07:14 AM

For those who bought music from allofmp3.com. Read herein Financial Times

Russian law enforcers move against online music pirates

Russian law enforcement agencies have taken their first action against rampant online music piracy by launching an investigation into one of the country's leading music websites.

The Moscow prosecutor's office is considering charges against "Allofmp3.com" - which sells music around the world - following separate investigations by the city's police computer crimes unit and the International Federation for the Phonographic Industry.

The move reflects mounting concern over piracy in Russia, where more than two-thirds of all music sold is thought to be illegally copied. Music industry groups have urged governments to crack down on pirate CD factories and unlicensed web sites, claiming the revenues undermine legitimate sales and support organised crime.

Analysts have estimated industry losses to internet piracy at $2.4bn (€1.8bn, £1.2bn) a year, while the IFPI has put a $4.5bn global value on illegally copied CDs and tapes. The IFPI said yesterday: "Allofmp3.com and its principals are alleged to be involved in large-scale copyright infringement by offering music for sale without authorisation from rights holders in Russia and internationally." The website is accused of distributing illegally copied tracks online for about 5 US cents each, compared with an industry average of 99 cents on legitimate download services.

As part of its investigations the IFPI - representing record companies in more than 70 countries - said it had "taken down" almost 61,000 web sites last year, compared with 41,000 in 2003.

It has also seized 1.6bn pirate music files or tracks.

The Moscow City Prosecutor's office has 30 days to decide whether to proceed with a criminal prosecution.

Igor Pozhitkov, regional director of the IFPI, said the Russian case was an important test for protecting the sale and digital distribution of copyrighted music.

turtle777 · Feb 23, 2005, 09:50 AM

No surprise to me.

-t

screamingFit · Feb 23, 2005, 11:17 AM

When has Russia ever cared about pirating??

How much US corporate money is convincing them to start?

malvolio · Feb 23, 2005, 01:26 PM

Originally posted by screamingFit:
When has Russia ever cared about pirating??

How much US corporate money is convincing them to start?

You've got it wrong. Allofmp3.com made big $$$$, so the Russian gov't. is looking to slap them in jail and seize their assets.
Same thing they did with their leading privately-owned oil company a few months back.

BasketofPuppies · Feb 23, 2005, 05:02 PM

So much for the people who insisted allofmp3 was legal.

I told you so!

Oisín · Feb 23, 2005, 05:05 PM

Originally posted by BasketofPuppies:
So much for the people who insisted allofmp3 was legal.

Yeah, 'cause the Russian government cracking down on something definitely means it's not legal...

BasketofPuppies · Feb 23, 2005, 05:10 PM

Originally posted by Ois�n:
Yeah, 'cause the Russian government cracking down on something definitely means it's not legal...

Either way, I still win.

itistoday · Feb 23, 2005, 05:11 PM

Originally posted by malvolio:
You've got it wrong. Allofmp3.com made big $$$$, so the Russian gov't. is looking to slap them in jail and seize their assets.
Same thing they did with their leading privately-owned oil company a few months back.

Strange, it sounds to me like they're being pressured and/or bribed by US companies and US government officials. But then again, this is all speculation, so there's no sense in arguing about it.

Oisín · Feb 23, 2005, 05:12 PM

Originally posted by BasketofPuppies:
Either way, I still win.

If you weren't a customer, yeah.

BasketofPuppies · Feb 23, 2005, 05:15 PM

Originally posted by Ois�n:
If you weren't a customer, yeah.

I can't promise not to laugh when the Russian mob sells your credit card number.

Oisín · Feb 23, 2005, 05:16 PM

Originally posted by BasketofPuppies:
I can't promise not to laugh when the Russian mob sells your credit card number.

I didn't say I was a customer (I wasn't). In fact, I don't think I ever went to the site...

itistoday · Feb 23, 2005, 05:17 PM

Originally posted by BasketofPuppies:
I can't promise not to laugh when the Russian mob sells your credit card number.

And what will you do if they don't?

turtle777 · Feb 24, 2005, 09:18 AM

Originally posted by BasketofPuppies:
I can't promise not to laugh when the Russian mob sells your credit card number.

-t

Scifience · Feb 24, 2005, 09:42 AM

Originally posted by BasketofPuppies:
I can't promise not to laugh when the Russian mob sells your credit card number.

I'm a customer, but they don't have my credit card info. I paid back when they were still taking PayPal.