Napoleon54

This is just ridiculous. They'd better not shut down my favorite source for legal music. I love AllofMP3's response, basically: "suck it".


http://www.zeropaid.com/news/8175/RIAA+sues+AllofMP3+for+$1.65+trillion

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MrGreg

I understand it's legal for them to operate in Russia, but is it legal for US customers to buy music from allofmp3?

$150,000 per song. Some of the RIAA lawyers must have gotten into Snoop's stash. Also, I think I heard on the radio last week that $1.65 Trillian is more than Russia's GDP. Now that's funny.

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ray

No.

It's the same reason why there's different versions of iTunes around the world (ie: people in Europe can't buy from the US iTunes). Different countries have different copyright laws. Because of this, there are different licenses that are granted by the record labels to sites like iTunes depending on the region they are serving.

ArkiStan

For those who are using allofmp3.com. How do you pay for your music and is it secure/safe?

Napoleon54

I've been using them for about 6 months now and have been EXTREMELY happy. You set up an account and pay ahead of time, I think the minimum is $10. Anything you buy is deducted from your account. Instead of charging a set amount per song they charge per MB that you download. They offer music in several formats and levels of quality. I typically order in 320kbps MP3 format and get full albums for $3-$4. I have had a couple support questions for them and they've always responded and resolved the situation within a day or two.

Below I'm paraphrasing the info found on their site. I've throughly read the user agreement and this is my understanding of it:

The simple way to explain it is that what you're doing is buying music in Russia and importing it to the US by downloading it. It's the same as if you were actually in Russia, purchased a CD, and brought it back with you on the plane.

The more complex way of explaining it is to consider that part of the service they offer, and you pay for is, after the music is encoded at your request, to rent you the space on their server where it is stored. Since this space is legally yours, it is entirely legal for you to transfer music files from your server space in Russia to your personal computer in the US. As a file is downloaded it is simultaneously deleted from the server in Russia, and thus only one copy of the encoded file ever exists. This apparently has some legal significance.

Napoleon54

IMO what it boils down to is that RIAA objects to the very favorable exchange rate between US $ and Russian rubles.

MikeD

Very satisfied with these guys as well. They have a desktop client, AllTunes, which is very similar to ITunes and is a suprisingly good app.

Their library is not as complete as ITunes, but it's not shabby at all. You should find nearly everything you're looking for.

Two notes: they recently stopped taking VISA and M/C payments, only AmEx and Diner's Club. See their site for ways around it. Also, they currently have a 20% bonus sale. Pay $50, get $60 credit towards their store.

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Jeffbx

Well, not TECHNICALLY - if you went & bought a CD in Russia, you'd be paying for a copy that was purchased legitimately from licensed distributors (assuming you're not buying bootleg). The artist & the RIAA see royalties from that, and I'm pretty sure you're going to be paying more than $3-4 per CD.

In this model, they are selling black market tunes - stuff that they don't have a license from the RIAA or the artist to sell. I'd say you're on just as firm legal ground downloading the files yourself illegally as you are buying from these guys. Perhaps safer, because if the RIAA is ever successful in making these guys stop, they're going to go after all of the customer transactions & bam! the RIAA has your name & credit card info. And you KNOW you don't want them to have that!

I'm holding my breath for the day that the RIAA gets a major smackdown for the way they've been acting. Pure, unadulterated greed on their part. What they should be doing is changing the way they do business, not suing everyone in sight.

cheapie

what's the problem here? if they are not selling legally obtained material, why allow them to stay in business?

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MikeD

Napoleon54

Allofmp3 pays royalties to ROMS (Russian Multimedia and Internet Society), RIAA's Russian counterpart. Considering the exchange rate, I'd be very very suprised if CDs in Russia cost even as much as the equivalent of $3-$4. They're probably cheaper than that.

Napoleon54

I had read that too a while ago, but I don't think it is the case any more. I used M/C a few weeks ago. Their FAQ/ help section now says:

"Are there any restrictions for credit card use?
-We do not accept American Express, Cirrus, Union Card."

Napoleon54

Does that mean Senator McCarthy will be knocking on my door each time I drink a white russian??? OMG!!!