allofmp3.com

andymt · 24-10-2005, 08:39

in my quest to find a cheap legal download site, i stumbled accross http://allofmp3.com

it offers mp3' singles for around $0.10 each (it varies as you pay depending on the size of the track)
and also offers full albums ranging from $1 - $2
it is a great site and you pay in credit, so you buy $10 credit etc...
i have been using it, but it dawned on me that the money i am paying is going to fund the b/w, not the actual track.
does anyone have any ideas if this site is illegal?
if so, its back to paying 79p from itunes

Paul K · 24-10-2005, 08:43

Quote:

All the materials in the MediaServices projects are available for distribution through Internet according to license # LS-3М-05-03 of the Russian Multimedia and Internet Society. Under the license terms, MediaServices pays license fees for all the materials subject to the Law of the Russian Federation "On Copyright and Related Rights". All the materials are available solely for personal use and must not be used for further distribution, resale or broadcasting.

Users are responsible for any usage and distribution of all materials received from AllOFMP3.com. This responsibility depends on the local legislation of each user's country of residence. AllOFMP3.com's Administration does not keep up with the laws of different countries and is not responsible the actions of non-Russian users.

I wouldn't risk it personally but that's just me.

Jon M · 24-10-2005, 08:47

Considering it's been under investigation and has disclaimers warning people that they may be using the service illegally if they violate any local laws then I would stay well clear.

Plus, I wouldn't be comfortable giving any finance related information to dodgy Russian websites.

andymt · 24-10-2005, 10:37

yeh its back to itunes then cuz i dont wanna download illegally

Gareth · 24-10-2005, 10:55

You might find this article interesting.

andygrif · 24-10-2005, 10:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by andymt

yeh its back to itunes then cuz i dont wanna download illegally

Good on you! It's nice to hear someone say this for a change.

What happens with allofMP3 is that they are collecting your money and are allowed to operate under an extremely out-of-date loophole in the Russian copyright laws.

However, copyright exists in both recordings (the actual track) and in the writing (the words and tune) and only one of these (under this loophole) permits allofMP3 to put original artist recordings online. The other, in true Russian quango style, refuses to talk to, well, anyone really - so they have NOT granted any license to anyone for the composition rights be places online. However, it could possibly be argued that allofMp3 offered to pay the authors via this body, but as the body won't talk to anyone they cannot do so. So, to me, it's unclear whether allofMP3 OPERATES illegally.

If you want to talk about morals, then they are acting immorally - they have exploited a loophole that allows them to pay virtually nothing to the record labels and absolutely nothing to the composers and publishers - which, if everyone only used allofMP3 to get all of their music, would result in virtuallyu no music being made available commercially.

However, under UK and EU copyright laws, to me again, it is fairly clear that it is unlawful to USE allofmp3. Recently the BPI used the copyright laws to stop some companies supplying legitimate product sourced in Asia and the US to any EU customer. In addition, the legal case between Levis and Tesco found that tesco were not allowed to source grey market product and sell in the EU, as this was a breach of copyright.

Therefore, by downloading music from allofMP3 you are in breach of copyright, by personally sourcing grey market copyrighted product from outside of the EU - which could (although it's unlikely) leave you open to future prosecuction by the BPI.

Copyright is a complex beastie!

eddie00001 · 24-10-2005, 11:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by andygrif

However, under UK and EU copyright laws, to me again, it is fairly clear that it is unlawful to USE allofmp3. Recently the BPI used the copyright laws to stop some companies supplying legitimate product sourced in Asia and the US to any EU customer. In addition, the legal case between Levis and Tesco found that tesco were not allowed to source grey market product and sell in the EU, as this was a breach of copyright.

Slightly off topic, but this to me is immoral buy companies artificially inflating prices in some markets as opposed to others, forcing the consumer to pay the increased price where they can get away with it. Its funny how companies are only for a free market so long as it suits their profit margins.

andygrif · 24-10-2005, 15:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddie00001

Slightly off topic, but this to me is immoral buy companies artificially inflating prices in some markets as opposed to others, forcing the consumer to pay the increased price where they can get away with it. Its funny how companies are only for a free market so long as it suits their profit margins.

As the old saying goes....two wrongs don't make a right. There's no doubt that the music industry has, in the past, been a victim of its own greed and I would agree that, until recently, with regards to downloading music they have well and truly had their head up their own behinds.

But things are getting better - legitimate download services are available and getting better all the time. Of course there are elements of the business that want to revert back to the old days of trying to fleece their customers by doubling or trebling the cost of online downloads - and these people should be reminded how the enormous dent in profits they suffered from consumers who didn't like paying OTT prices for CDs and went online and got them for free instead - but that's another subject completely!

Where I particularly dislike allofMP3 is that they are using an outdated copyright law in Russia to avoid paying much to the record labels (and in turn to the artists) and nothing at all to the publishers (and in turn the composers).

And for those who don't have much sympathy for the labels, I would urge them to think about the artists and writers instead. If you're a new artist, have a middling hit record with a song that someone else wrote - your royalty payment (aside from taking upwards of six months to come through) will not cover a week's food shopping at Lidl's.

Composers who write the song (also have to wait upwards of six months) get a couple of PENCE for having their songs played on nation radio in the UK for example. They need quantity to live and allofMP3 are denying them what should be a sizeable payment per download and banking the money themselves - making no effort whatsoever to pay these people.

Whilst the labels and big publishing houses might be able to survive without such payments, there's a lot of talented people who simply cannot.

Personally, I think that taking a payment and not paying the dues is worse that the people who "share" their collections online for free.

eddie00001 · 24-10-2005, 15:54

Would be good to see a situation soon why the artists etc can by-pass the record companies and sell their music straight to the public. I can see that as a situation where the artists and the public gain. Cheaper music to us, and more money to the artists - and bugger all to the labels, which seems fair to me.

I think some of the larger artists could be in a situation where they could easily make this a reality

TheBlueRaja · 24-10-2005, 16:04

Pay for MP3's? Are you all mad?

If so i have a small child in need of clothes this christmas - i cant afford to buy her any as my wife just left me and is suing for custody of her. Im givng up everything to be able to keep her - but im not sure how much i can take.

Please give generously at suckers@paypal.com.

24-10-2005, 16:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja

Pay for MP3's? Are you all mad?

If so i have a small child in need of clothes this christmas - i cant afford to buy her any as my wife just left me and is suing for custody of her. Im givng up everything to be able to keep her - but im not sure how much i can take.

Please give generously at suckers@paypal.com.

Im afraid Im with you on this one.Im a leech and I dont care what the moralists say.I have asked this question before and im yet to be answered ,how many can truely say they have nothing pirated or in breech of copyright,not a single illegal mp3 or dvd not a single cd,anyone ever borrowed a dvd off a friend and watched it? this in itself is breech of copyright I would wager that very few people indeed are 100% clean very few if any

Ramrod · 24-10-2005, 16:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon M

Plus, I wouldn't be comfortable giving any finance related information to dodgy Russian websites.

Russian!?...I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole!

andygrif · 24-10-2005, 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

Im afraid Im with you on this one.Im a leech and I dont care what the moralists say.I have asked this question before and im yet to be answered ,how many can truely say they have nothing pirated or in breech of copyright,not a single illegal mp3 or dvd not a single cd,anyone ever borrowed a dvd off a friend and watched it? this in itself is breech of copyright I would wager that very few people indeed are 100% clean very few if any

The problem with the leeching arguments is that people like to wear it like a badge of honour. The same behavior is exhibited in West Coast gangs, where they take a slice out of their eyebrows for each person they have killed - different end of the scale...but same basic level to show-off to others they they have broken the rules.

However, I don't think the issue on discussion is whether you're a leech or not - that's a subject for another thread.

The question is whether you'd pay someone to leech. And is this worse than leeching for free? Personally, and for the reasons given, I think it is. A comparison could be drawn that it is worse to buy a pirated DVD from a bloke at a carboot sale than it is to borrow it from your mate and copy it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddie00001

Would be good to see a situation soon why the artists etc can by-pass the record companies and sell their music straight to the public. I can see that as a situation where the artists and the public gain. Cheaper music to us, and more money to the artists - and bugger all to the labels, which seems fair to me.

I think some of the larger artists could be in a situation where they could easily make this a reality

Yes, and for some it's already a reality and that's great. However, having worked with the music industry for many years, and met many of the artists - I can honestly say that 95% of them wouldn't have a clue what to do with regards to makerting, distribution, promotion, arranging tours and dealing with the processing of royalties.

Those that can...great. Those that can't...need record companies.

idi banashapan · 24-10-2005, 16:41

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...t=allofmp3.com

andymt · 24-10-2005, 17:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

Im afraid Im with you on this one.Im a leech and I dont care what the moralists say.I have asked this question before and im yet to be answered ,how many can truely say they have nothing pirated or in breech of copyright,not a single illegal mp3 or dvd not a single cd,anyone ever borrowed a dvd off a friend and watched it? this in itself is breech of copyright I would wager that very few people indeed are 100% clean very few if any

yes im with you too
yes i do use p2p and bittorrent every now and again to get what i want

some times it is easier! even thogh i can afford to pay for music-the lastle of signing up, downloading software, searching for what you want, paying for it, installing music manager, waiting aaagggeees for the slow servers they use, and after all that its copyright protected so i cant put it on my mp3player!
allofmp3.com is simple yet effective. so is limewire. so is bittorent and thats why their popular. itunes etc..are just too complicated with their liscences-it means i have to burn any tracks i download to an audio cd and then rip them, then transfer them to a portable device-stupid!
i don't like to break the law, and as i said above I want to go legal, but to be honest i just can't be bothered. and paying 79p for a track, even though i can afford it..is stupid. 50p would be better.