RIAA claims victory over AllofMP3

The RIAA has declared complete victory over the infamous Russian music download store AllofMP3 which was accused of selling tracks but not giving any of the proceeds to the artists or record labels.

At its peak, the site had 6 million users who legally downloaded songs and full albums for cheaper than 1/3 the price of iTunes or Amazon. The RIAA said however that the record labels and the artists were not seeing any of this money and filed complaints to get the WTO to shut the site down. In 2007, the site was shut down and the RIAA praised the decision. However, in October of that year, the site was acquitted of any charges and a district court in Moscow confirmed the innocent verdict after an appeal by the record industry group. Despite being innocent, the site shut down and no longer offers music.

It now appears that this week the RIAA dropped its copyright infringement lawsuit against AllofMP3 and claimed victory.

�The site is now defunct and out of business, the result of a successful anti-piracy initiative,� Jonathan Lamy, an RIAA spokesman said.

That may be true, but following the media AllofMP3 received, almost a dozen similar sites have sprung up and are currently fully operational. Even funnier, the founders of AllofMP3 have started a new site called Mp3Sparks which operates exactly the same as the now "defunct" AllofMP3 did.

Talking about the dropping of the lawsuit, John Crossman, representative of the site�s owner, MediaServices LLC says, �They [RIAA] never correctly commenced the proceeding in the first place...Maybe it was a rare triumph of good sense.�

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 27 May 2008 14:38

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15 comments

iluvendo

I don't see a victory for the riaa, Just Spin.

27.5.2008 15:27 #1

numscull

Sounds like the mythical creature called Hydra. If you cut its head off, two more would grow back in its place.

27.5.2008 16:11 #2

nobrainer

Originally posted by iluvendo: I don't see a victory for the riaa, Just Spin.you're right its complete tosh, they have only dropped the case as they had NO legal bearing over the Russian site in its home country, as it was 100% legal as they paid royalties to the Russian royalty collection body ROMS, just because the IFPI cannot price fix this service, like it can with iTunes and Amazon ect does not make it illegal.

US law is not global RIAA, MPAA, IFPI, get used to it.... people don't like price fixing.

http://blogs.allofmp3.ru/music_news/2007...of-allofmp3com/
Originally posted by link:
5 November 2007, 06:07

Court confirms legality of AllofMP3.com

On 24 October a district court in Moscow has confirmed the "no copyright infringement" verdict.

Earlier this year, on 15 August 2007 AllofMP3.com was acquitted of all charges brought up by IFPI. Consequently the Federation filed a protest on behalf of the labels. This protest was declined last week. This time IFPI promised to go as far as the Supreme Court.

This was yet another victory for AllofMP3.com in court.Q. what is http://mp3sparks.com/ and http://alltunes.com/

A. AllofMP3 with a new name, so the IFPI have done diddly squat other than look stupid and greedy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AllOfMP3

http://blogs.allofmp3.ru/music_news/2008...st-allofmp3com/
Originally posted by link: AllofMP3.com welcomes the decision of record labels to voluntarily dismiss their $1,65 trln lawsuit against the site.

On May 23 Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group Corp., Vivendi SA and EMI Group Plc. decided to drop their copyright case filed in federal court in Manhattan (Bloomberg.com).

Some time ago the AllofMP3.com services had to be suspended due to litigation.

There�ll be more updates on the development of the situation.

The BPI Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
The RIAA Soundexchange Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
The IFPI Are: The same anti consumer lot as listed above!
The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX.

27.5.2008 17:07 #3

logan1957

I find it highly amusing that the RIAA is crowing about shutting down a legal service because "The RIAA said however that the record labels and the artists were not seeing any of this money." C'mon, this is the same bunch of whackos that told the artists that all the moneies that they have won in their illegal court cases was paid out in lawyers fees. Who can believe these idiots and their unmitigated BS. I remember the DOJ refusing to get involved in the file sharing cases brought out by the RIAA, well, maybe they should. I wouldst imagine if there was a big enuff hue and cry by the public that they'd have to do something, especially if the lawsuits start going against them. Can you imagine the RIAA being investigated by the DOJ and finding all the illegal songs, porn and heaven's knows what else is on their computers. Wouldn't that make headlines? I can just see it now RIAA president CARY SHARMEN and his company have been shut down due to illegal files found on their computers. I can also see them whining and crying trying to pass the buck saying that they had no idea how that stuff got there. Yeah, right, tell me another fairy tale. It's just a dream now but ohhhhh wouldn't it be nice. LOLOLOL

27.5.2008 17:32 #4

iluvendo

Originally posted by logan1957: I find it highly amusing that the RIAA is crowing about shutting down a legal service because "The RIAA said however that the record labels and the artists were not seeing any of this money." C'mon, this is the same bunch of whackos that told the artists that all the moneies that they have won in their illegal court cases was paid out in lawyers fees. Who can believe these idiots and their unmitigated BS. I remember the DOJ refusing to get involved in the file sharing cases brought out by the RIAA, well, maybe they should. I wouldst imagine if there was a big enuff hue and cry by the public that they'd have to do something, especially if the lawsuits start going against them. Can you imagine the RIAA being investigated by the DOJ and finding all the illegal songs, porn and heaven's knows what else is on their computers. Wouldn't that make headlines? I can just see it now RIAA president CARY SHARMEN and his company have been shut down due to illegal files found on their computers. I can also see them whining and crying trying to pass the buck saying that they had no idea how that stuff got there. Quote:Yeah, right, tell me another fairy tale

Once upon a time............

. It's just a dream now but ohhhhh wouldn't it be nice. LOLOLOL

If it wasnt for bad luck, Id have no luck!
"The flimsier the product,the higher the price"
Ferengi 82nd rule of aquisition

27.5.2008 17:40 #5

nobrainer

Originally posted by logan1957: I find it highly amusing that the RIAA is crowing about shutting down a legal service because "The RIAA said however that the record labels and the artists were not seeing any of this money.
ROMS have on several occasions attempted to make payments to the IFPI (RIAA) but they have refused to collect the royalties from ROMS(Russian Organization for Multimedia and Digital Systems) as the IFPI are unable to price fix the service.

Russian Organization for Multimedia and Digital Systems Originally posted by hyperlink:

Russian Organization for Multimedia and Digital Systems (ROMS) (Russian: РОМС) is the Russian equivalent of the United States' SoundExchange. ROMS is the body designated by Russian law for collecting and distributing statutory copyright royalty payments from radio stations and Internet download sites in Russia, notably GoMusic.ru.

Websites licensed by ROMS
* Gomusic.ru
* AllOfMP3.com (Down)
* MP3stor.com (Down)
* Lavamus.com
* Iomoio.com
* Mp3va.com
* Soundike.com
* Mp3Sale.ru
* LegalSounds.com Risk of getting your ip blocked when downloading much (HTTP 403 error)
* Mp3Fiesta.com
* The Movie Library - zml.com

Currently it appears that the site *MP3stor.com has been taken down, without warning but with users' money!

27.5.2008 17:40 #6

Pop_Smith

Originally posted by DVDBack23: Even funnier, the founders of AllofMP3 have started a new site called Mp3Sparks which operates exactly the same as the now "defunct" AllofMP3 did.Indeed, this had me laughing and pointing at the RIAA.

Originally posted by nobrainer: US law is not global RIAA, MPAA, IFPI, get used to it.... people don't like price fixing.I couldn't agree more, I looked up some stuff on MP3Sparks to check prices and it looks to be based on two things:

1. Quality - Higher quality encoding means a bit more $

2. Release date - Newer releases cost more, makes sense to me.

The most expensive album I could find on Mp3Sparks is $3.30 for the new Indiana Jones Soundtrack, for 192Kbps MP3s (without DRM!) thats a nice price if your going to buy it.

Peace

27.5.2008 17:43 #7

mspurloc

Victory?
As others here have pointed out, they have made the biggest blunder in history!
They don't have the support of the people.
Because the people know they are manipulating governments and the law to cash in.
They will never win, because they handle things the way they handled AllOfMP3, with a sledgehammer.
They do that because they are infected with arrogant presumption.
The same corporate stupidity that eliminates a service at a price level that people want, to substitute for the worthless, DRM-infected garbage they're pimping.
Like morons, they're trying to squeeze salt water into submission.

27.5.2008 17:43 #8

iluvendo

Originally posted by nobrainer: Originally posted by logan1957: I find it highly amusing that the RIAA is crowing about shutting down a legal service because "The RIAA said however that the record labels and the artists were not seeing any of this money.
ROMS have on several occasions attempted to make payments to the IFPI (RIAA) but they have refused to collect the royalties from ROMS(Russian Organization for Multimedia and Digital Systems) as the IFPI are unable to price fix the service.
Here it is, ROMS is trying to pay the riaa, and the riaa won't accept the money because they (riaa) can't prce fix. Greedy bastards !!!!!

If it wasnt for bad luck, Id have no luck!
"The flimsier the product,the higher the price"
Ferengi 82nd rule of aquisition

27.5.2008 17:46 #9

nobrainer

Originally posted by Pop_Smith:

1. Quality - Higher quality encoding means a bit more $

2. Release date - Newer releases cost more, makes sense to me.

The most expensive album I could find on Mp3Sparks is $3.30 for the new Indiana Jones Soundtrack, for 192Kbps MP3s (without DRM!) thats a nice price if your going to buy it.
Peacei think its basically the same as allofmp3.com Pop Smith. The lack of the price fixing tool DRM, and the superior quality is why the site was in such demand, as these are the types of media choices ppl want, but the IFPI want it on a price fixing scale from country to country, where as allofmp3 gave it for the same cost regardless of territory.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allofmp3#Download_formats
Originally posted by link: Download formats

AllOfMP3 (and now MP3Sparks) allows users to choose from a variety of audio codecs for audio files. Lossy formats are offered in constant bitrates up to 320kbit/s or variable bitrates up to maximum quality in the following formats:

* MP3
* WMA
* Ogg Vorbis
* MPEG4-AAC
* MPC

Select albums are also being made available in Lossless audio codecs in the following formats:

* FLAC
* PCM
* Monkey's Audio
* OptimFROG
* WMA Lossless

Most music is encoded straight from source, which is dubbed Online Encoding Exclusive, so gapless albums could provide gapless playback, unlike most other music services. There is no extra charge for using the Online Encoding Exclusive service. The user sets the codec parameters, including the desired bitrate, allowing for superior quality over other music download services such as iTunes and Napster.

Downloaded files do not contain digital rights management information, allowing unrestricted use between multiple computers and digital audio players. This differentiates AllOfMP3 from many other music download services, which limit the use of the music the user may purchase and the platforms on which it may be played.just look out for the "oeex" cd quality symbol, like on the duffy album.

http://mp3sparks.com/r2/Duffy/Rockferry/.../mcatalog.shtml

27.5.2008 17:54 #10

nanu-nanu

Quote:I don't see a victory for the riaa, Just Spin.Thats the beauty of the ignorance of the general public. Companies know "people" are largely a stupid group en mass.

Individuals are intelligent "groups" are lemmings.

The RIAA only needs to spin it, to show stupid people like US Congress, that the RIAA is doing good.

Yes, absolutly its just spin.....but thats what american media is all about.

27.5.2008 18:18 #11

iluvendo

Originally posted by nanu-nanu: Quote:I don't see a victory for the riaa, Just Spin.Thats the beauty of the ignorance of the general public. Companies know "people" are largely a stupid group en mass.

Individuals are intelligent "groups" are lemmings.

The RIAA only needs to spin it, to show stupid people like US Congress, that the RIAA is doing good.

Yes, absolutly its just spin.....but thats what american media is all about.

It saddens me to rear your post. However it is 100% truth.

The public doen not think for itself any longer, but instead relies on "spin masters" to do their thinking for them."

If it wasnt for bad luck, Id have no luck!
"The flimsier the product,the higher the price"
Ferengi 82nd rule of aquisition

27.5.2008 18:23 #12

mspurloc

Originally posted by iluvendo: Originally posted by nanu-nanu: Quote:I don't see a victory for the riaa, Just Spin.Thats the beauty of the ignorance of the general public. Companies know "people" are largely a stupid group en mass.... Yes, absolutly its just spin.....but thats what american media is all about.It saddens me to rear your post. However it is 100% truth.

The public doen not think for itself any longer, but instead relies on "spin masters" to do their thinking for them."Yes, but it's not just the media.
This is what people refuse to believe or understand.
It's your schools and the political parties, too.
There's a reason that schools emphasize emotions over reason. Reactive people are easily controlled. They don't teach people critical thinking anymore and there's a reason. If you aren't taught logic or cause and effect, you can be programmed. Indoctrinated, more precisely.

So the masses these days come out of school ready to believe whatever their party tells them and whatever the various media tell them. They never re-examine their basic beliefs, or even form their own. After all, Professor FormerHippie told them what to think, didn't he?

I can respect someone's difference of opinion if they can explain it to me calmly and rationally. I cannot respect someone who has never reassessed their beliefs long enough to determine whether the press is lying to them, or some slimy organization like the RIAA is playing them. At least the people in this forum get it. They see the threat posed by non-governmental agencies like MPAA and RIAA. That's rare, apparently.

28.5.2008 13:06 #13

tefarko

when AllofMP3 closed I began to download songs from P2P...

a victory for the RIAA, indeed...

28.5.2008 13:30 #14

wingco

The hoohah about copyright infringement stems from the fact that record companies in the main have been run by idiots, if you want proof, what other organisations with their kind of resources would not have seen P2P coming? yeah apart from politicians and we know that the way to tell when they're lying is when their lips are moving.
Record companies have for years peddled sub-standard music using the cheapest materials ( vinyl tapes etc) which prompted people to start doing their own recordings in the first place. Then they tried to get a tax on blank tapes, then came the digital era and they were screwed, so what did they do? threaten to sue the pants off anyone who infringed their copyright......a great way to engender loyalty from customers!
Now with music downloads there is no cost of the material on which it is recorded, no printing, no packaging, no warehousing,tiny ongoing overhead costs and they still try to stiff everyone for the sort of money they charge for CDs etc!
If they charged a reasonable amount and made it not worth anyone's while to try to get it for nothing, they would reap huge rewards.
They have to come to realise that along with rights in respect of intellectual property, there is also a set of responsibilities NOT TO KEEP RIPPING PEOPLE OFF!
By ignoring this principle, as the record companies et al have done,events conspire to bite them in the rear end as is now the case and instead of doing something positive, the same old idiots are threatening their prospective customers when they should be doing everything they can to win them back before it's too late.
Even musicians are now releasing records solely through the internet because they too are tired of being ripped off from the other end, the only beneficiaries, it seems, will be the lawyers, one piece of litigation is much like the next, it doesn't matter to them who they sue as long as someone pays the bill. Having had to stump up millions to pay their lawyers fees, the idiot record company bosses now seemingly want to get this back by overcharging and starting the cycle all over again, who else but a cretin would behave in this way apart from a politician? If they think they are likely to win anything in a Russian court that will have any lasting effect, perhaps I could interest them in a nice little bridge across the River Thames.....I have the deed right here.....only $50,000,000 (used notes only)

3.6.2008 10:47 #15

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