backtop

Print 29 comment(s) - last by timmiser.. on Jun 6 at 6:14 PM
Could the end be near for Allofmp3?

Allofmp3.com, a Russian-based MP3 download service, is a popular option for online music downloads.  Instead of paying $0.99 per song, users are able to purchase entire music albums for around $1.00 to $1.50.  However, the cheaper service very well could be illegal for users in Russia and the United States.  The company is also currently under criminal investigation by Russian police because of possible copyright violations.  With Russia following only behind China in regards to source of pirated music, film and software, Allofmp3 has been a source of drama in the past several weeks.

The US is also willing to oppose Russia's membership into the World Trade Organization (WTO) if the country does not shut down Allofmp3.com.  White House officials have already stated that Russia will have to agree to tough commercial terms in an agreement if the country wishes to successfully join the WTO.  The piracy plagued nation may be forced to make another legitimate attempt against illegal activities in the country.

Comments     Threshold


This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
I love how all the pirates defend allofmp3
By Staples on 6/5/2006 1:34:59 PM , Rating: 1
Reality check!!!!

It is illegal.




RE: I love how all the pirates defend allofmp3
By sonofzahid on 6/5/2006 2:01:29 PM , Rating: 2
The way I see it: a $10 to $20 CD or a $1 song in America is affordable, with the average per capita income of $42,000. However, in nations such as China or Russia, where the average ranges from $5,000 to $10,000, it is sheer madness to expect people to pay such prices. Wasn't this why DVD regions were created? So movies could be sold cheaper in certain markets, and so the cheaper versions wouldn't play in America, etc.? The way I see it, similar regulations could be effective in allowing the Russian and Chinese masses access to affordable media.


By Topweasel on 6/5/2006 3:45:18 PM , Rating: 2
How are they ever going to grow as a company if we coddle them. 30 years ago when we had no Idea what it was costing some one from Kuwait for something it was okay, but its an issue now when we know exactly what they are paying. Just beacause we can afford more doesn't mean we should be charged more, and when you start getting into the 10x more then everyone else just because the average peson makes 10k more then you while someone is paying 1/10th while making 10k less then you. Starts creating resentment.

The Problem then becomes as a nation we keep finding cheaper ways of working this out. the MPAA and RIAA refuesed to use these solutions as anything but a cheaper way to charge us the same ammount.


By dgs127 on 6/5/2006 5:21:56 PM , Rating: 2
Excellent point.

This got me to thinking about CD prices. When I travel I often check at big retailers when I am on the road to verify pricing and look for bargains. What got me was it would cost $20 CDN, $20 US or $20 GB pounds for a CD.

Didn't matter the currency or exchange rate but the price point was always the same. Being Canadian I always bought them at home since the exchange would kill me elsewhere.


By l3ftonm32 on 6/5/2006 6:42:36 PM , Rating: 2
actually the average per capita may be 42,000 estimated for 05', but in reality the personal per capita income average is more in the range of 34,500 which has more value, but thats another story. I don't see why we need to pay more for movies and music than anyone else. Large media corporations exploit the artists and charge way more than needed, for movies actors and actresses are just greedy and do not deserve the money they make for making a movie that is absolutely crap. In the past people watched movies as a way to get away from everyday life and find some sense of relief from the outside world. Now we sit and watch a film that is loaded with blatent product placement ruining the ability that a movie has to immerse you in its storyline and instead make you think hey thats a nice phone maybe I should buy that. The entertainment industry as a whole has turned to crap and we shouldnt be forced to pay higher prices for the same crap experience other countries are also drowned in but only pay a fraction of what we pay in comparison.


By Pandamonium on 6/6/2006 5:09:14 AM , Rating: 2
If that were true, I would choose to not buy electronics or msdia in the states. Then I would buy all my electronics and media in the cheapest region, and have it shipped to the states. It's importing on a smaller scale, and ostensibly the recording industry has no beef with that.

What irks me the most is how quick the recording guilds are to use legal leverage when certain overlooked activities become large-scale.


RE: I love how all the pirates defend allofmp3
By TomZ on 6/5/2006 2:14:55 PM , Rating: 4
Proof?

Low cost does not necessarily mean it is illegal.

I can buy rice in China cheaper than in the U.S. - doesn't mean that Chinese rice is illegal.


By icered on 6/5/2006 2:29:03 PM , Rating: 2
LOL .. Nice analogy


RE: I love how all the pirates defend allofmp3
By feraltoad on 6/5/2006 2:51:21 PM , Rating: 2
It's not illegal if their isn't a law against it. Last I've heard Russia has pretty archaic copyright laws.


By AndreasM on 6/5/2006 3:17:52 PM , Rating: 3
Or progressive, depending on which side of the issue one leans.


RE: I love how all the pirates defend allofmp3
By Topweasel on 6/5/2006 3:37:32 PM , Rating: 2
Actually their laws for this, require they pay a company that pays the RIAA. What AllofMP3 does is pays a very small ammount to a company that Doesn't pay the RIAA at all. For this reason AllofMP3 is doing it complataly legally and its up to the RIAA to collect tolls from this middle company. That where the laws get really wierd, basically the RIAA can't go after AllofMP3 even if they can't collect on the tolls from middle company. As long as the accounting is done right I am guessing middle company doesn't even have to exist.


By stmok on 6/5/2006 4:13:40 PM , Rating: 2
Hmmm...Makes sense.

Since the RIAA can't go after them directly, they get the US Govt to threaten the country of where their target is based.

But didn't this similar tactic fail miserably as we saw with ThePirateBay and Sweden? (The Justice Minister over there is going to be in some serious sh*t for authorizing such a raid to begin with).


RE: I love how all the pirates defend allofmp3
By timmiser on 6/5/2006 6:00:12 PM , Rating: 2
What?? Now paying for MP3's is illegal all of sudden??


RE: I love how all the pirates defend allofmp3
By TomZ on 6/5/2006 6:21:15 PM , Rating: 2
Allofmp3.com is a pay service.


By timmiser on 6/6/2006 6:14:38 PM , Rating: 2
Exactly my point!


Pretty pathetic...
By DigitalFreak on 6/5/2006 12:20:37 PM , Rating: 2
how the music and movie industries in the US have enough legal pull to keep an entire country out of the WTO.




RE: Pretty pathetic...
By jkostans on 6/5/2006 12:28:00 PM , Rating: 2
We are primarily known for our music and movies, are we not?


RE: Pretty pathetic...
By Tsuwamono on 6/5/06, Rating: 0
RE: Pretty pathetic...
By DigitalFreak on 6/5/06, Rating: 0
RE: Pretty pathetic...
By essjae on 6/5/2006 12:58:27 PM , Rating: 2
Yeah really, I mean why should the person or company who created the product get any profits?


RE: Pretty pathetic...
By Topweasel on 6/5/2006 1:49:48 PM , Rating: 5
Its not that they don't deserve to get paid, because they do. My Problem is with how they are dealing with their legal issues.

In China their attempts to stop copyright infringment is handled by Selling movies at $2 a pop. In Russia they are trying to kick the company out of a Global trading Federation. In the US they appear to be getting subscriber lists from ISPs and randomly sueing them.

The fact is their are tons of different solutions to curbing it that they can do that moral. If they went with a low cost Online distrobution and combined it with a standard price retail option, People could by their discs from the store or save 5 bucks and buy it online and burn it off themselves.

Instead they make it cost exactly the same amount even thought they only have to pay for bandwidth and storage, and they won't let you burn it off at all.

Its killing of PSP. Its going to kill BLu-Ray, and HD-DVD is going to struggle for these reasons and more.

The fact is the market is changing around them and instead of doing something about it, they are sticking their feet in the ground. They could be bringing in a lot more money but they refuse to change. Sadly in a free market where sales decide price they think they can force everyone to pay the same $20 per Movie and the Same $13 for a music CD, while their selling less and less each year and Priracy increases yr to yr. Most companies would be smart and ajudst pricing, find different production and distrobution methods to lower costs. No insteasd they randomly sue the very same people they are trying to convince to buy their stuff, and bulling whole contries to take legal action against a companie that for over 5 yrs they haven't found a reason to take action against. All the while they hand out movies for $2 and cds fo 50 cents to people to people doing exactly the same things they go after Americans and Russians about. They Fact that the real hurt is comming from China while Russia and the US account for very karge portions of their Profits (the US obviously more so) seems to make no difference to them.

So I think we all want them to get paid, but I think we can all agree that even if they don't want to take the cost effective routes, they are going the completely wrong way of doing this.


RE: Pretty pathetic...
By stmok on 6/5/2006 4:10:08 PM , Rating: 2
Good post, Topweasel! :-)

Its their refusal to change and be dynamic is what's really killing them!


Allofmp3 down?
By villageidiot111 on 6/5/2006 4:41:09 PM , Rating: 2
Allofmp3 is down for me right now, coincidence?




RE: Allofmp3 down?
By TomZ on 6/5/2006 5:56:25 PM , Rating: 2
I can access it here with no problem.


Is "allofmp3.com" Illegal?
By TomZ on 6/5/2006 1:19:24 PM , Rating: 2
Through the years, my understanding is that allofmp3.com is operating legally - is that not the case?

I see some allegations and investigations now - but that company has operated that side for years. My understanding is that it is completely legal.




Double-Standard for Russia?
By TomZ on 6/5/2006 3:30:31 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
With Russia following only behind China in regards to source of pirated music, film and software

quote:
The US is also willing to oppose Russia's membership into the World Trade Organization (WTO) if the country does not shut down Allofmp3.com. White House officials have already stated that Russia will have to agree to tough commercial terms in an agreement if the country wishes to successfully join the WTO.

Pretty damn ironic, considering that China, suggested to be the #1 location for copyright infringement, is actually a WTO member. Seems like a double-standard if you ask me.




By TallCoolOne on 6/5/2006 12:14:59 PM , Rating: 5
You forgot the "Soviet". :)

In Soviet Russia, world trade organizes you!


By Tsuwamono on 6/5/2006 12:34:19 PM , Rating: 2
lol nice


"Let's face it, we're not changing the world. We're building a product that helps people buy more crap - and watch porn." -- Seagate CEO Bill Watkins









botimage
Copyright 2012 DailyTech LLC. - RSS Feed | Advertise | About Us | Ethics | FAQ | Terms, Conditions & Privacy Information | Kristopher Kubicki