21 December 2006 11:57 GMT / By Amber Maitland
Russian download site AllofMP3.com has not had a great year. The latest in a long list of persecutions comes from US record labels, who are filing suit in New York.Arista Records, Warner Bros, Capitol, and UMG recordings are all going after Mediaservices, the parent company behind AllofMP3.com, for selling songs without permission.
Mediaservices has long maintained it is operating legally because it pay royalties to a Russian licensing body. However, that body isn’t recognised by the music industry.
Although AllofMP3.com charges for downloads, it does so at much lower prices than other legal downloading sites.
The BPI, the British music industry body, received permission in July to sue the site. The BPI’s general cousel, Roz Groome, said at the time, “We have maintained all along that this site is illegal and that the operator of the site is breaking UK law by making sound recordings available to UK-based customers without permission of the copyright owners.”
The Russian government agreed earlier this month to shut the site down, after it was named as one of the obstacles preventing Russia’s admittance to the World Trade Organisation.
However, as of today, the site is still up and running.
Biz, Lawsuits, Music downloads, allofmp3
Nikon D800 pictures and hands-on Full frame camera in the flesh
Nikon D700 vs Nikon D800 New and improved?
Acer CloudMobile Ice Cream Sandwich smartphone set for MWC launch 4.3-inch award winner
