Editing AllOfMP3 (section)

== Legal issues ==

AllOfMP3's legality is controversial. It is licensed in Russia by the [[Russian Organization for Multimedia and Digital Systems]], a licence similar to agreements held by Russian [[radio station]]s. AllOfMP3 states that this agreement allows it to distribute music legally from all artists and all labels. This is disputed by most major record labels, which generally do not recognize ROMS or believe that it has the authority to distribute their works. AllOfMP3.com makes no claims as to its legality outside of Russia.<ref>"[http://www.slate.com/id/2115868/ Barely Legal]", [[Slate Magazine]], March 28, 2005</ref> However it is accessible to visitors in all countries.

In 2005, Moscow authorities began investigating the site as a result of a formal complaint from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), who accused the site of "large-scale copyright infringement".<ref>"[https://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/02/22/allofmp3_probe/ Russian police probe cheap downloads site]" [[The Register]], February 22, 2005</ref>

On June 1, 2006, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that US trade negotiators have warned Russia that the continued existence of AllOfMP3 could jeopardize Russia's entry into the [[World Trade Organization]].<ref name=nytimes_popular/> This was reiterated by the [[United States Trade Representative]] [[Susan Schwab]] in remarks to the US [[Chamber of Commerce]] on September 28, 2006.<ref>"[http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Transcripts/2006/September/asset_upload_file794_9872.pdf Remarks by U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab, U.S. Chamber of Commerce] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061106100423/http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Transcripts/2006/September/asset_upload_file794_9872.pdf |date=2006-11-06 }}", September 28, 2006</ref> She later told reporters that "I have a hard time imagining Russia becoming a member of the WTO and having a Web site like that up and running that is so clearly a violation of everyone's intellectual property rights."<ref>"[http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6122879.html U.S. pushes Russia in WTO talks to close MP3 site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061201050141/http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6122879.html |date=2006-12-01 }}", [[ZDNet]], October 5, 2006</ref>

Pressure from the IFPI resulted in AllOfMP3 being blocked by the Danish [[ISP]], [[Tele2]] in October 2006.<ref>"[http://www.russianspy.org/2006/10/27/swedish-tele2-will-block-allofmp3com/ Swedish Tele2 Will Block AllofMP3.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213442/http://www.russianspy.org/2006/10/27/swedish-tele2-will-block-allofmp3com/ |date=2007-09-27 }}" [http://www.russianspy.org/ Russian Spy], October 27, 2006</ref>

On December 18, 2006,<ref>"[http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=173284 Record labels sue operator of Russian music Web site AllofMP3.com]{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}" [[Boston Herald]] December 22, 2006</ref> the [[RIAA]], on behalf of [[EMI]], [[Sony BMG]], [[Universal Music Group]], and [[Warner Music Group]] filed a US$1.65 trillion lawsuit against the site. That equates to US$150,000 for each of 11 million songs downloaded between June and October 2006, and exceeds Russia's entire GDP.<ref>"[http://tech.cybernetnews.com/2006/12/22/allofmp3com-sued-for-165-trillion/ Sued for $1.65 Trillion] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070322040930/http://tech.cybernetnews.com/2006/12/22/allofmp3com-sued-for-165-trillion/ |date=2007-03-22 }}" [[cybernetnews.com]] December 22, 2006</ref><ref>"[http://www.nypost.com/seven/12212006/business/music_labels__nyet_to_russian_pirates_business_peter_lauria.htm Music Labels: Nyet to Russian Pirates] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070110055529/http://www.nypost.com/seven/12212006/business/music_labels__nyet_to_russian_pirates_business_peter_lauria.htm |date=2007-01-10 }}", [[New York Post]], December 21, 2006</ref> $150,000 is the statutory limit for copyright infringement awards in the United States.<ref>{{usc|17|504}}(c) US CODE: Title 17,504. Remedies for infringement: Damages and profits ([[Cornell University Law School]])</ref> Allofmp3 responded to the lawsuit saying ''"AllofMP3 understands that several U.S. record label companies filed a lawsuit against Media Services in New York. This suit is unjustified as AllofMP3 does not operate in New York. Certainly the labels are free to file any suit they wish, despite knowing full well that AllofMP3 operates legally in Russia. In the meantime, AllofMP3 plans to continue to operate legally and comply with all Russian laws."''.<ref>"[http://www.slyck.com/story1368.html AllofMP3.com Responds to the $1.64 Trillion Lawsuit]" [[Slyck.com]], December 27, 2006</ref>

In May 2007, UK police arrested a 25-year-old man on fraud charges for selling allofmp3.com vouchers on sites such as [[eBay]] and allofmp3vouchers.co.uk. The man was reported to be funneling money from the sale of these vouchers back to the owners of the site in Russia.<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6677265.stm MP3 site's voucher system closes]" [[BBC News]], May 21, 2007</ref> A statement in relation to this alleged transfer of funds to Russia was made by the [[British Phonographic Industry]] chairman.<ref>"[http://www.bpi.co.uk/news/press/index.asp?fName=news_content_file_1078.shtml Police dawn raid stops allofmp3.com pirate vouchers scheme]", [[British Phonographic Industry|BPI]] press release, May 21, 2007</ref>

In 2007 Allofmp3 was banned from service by its [[payment processor]] [[Pavel Vrublevsky#Chronopay|ChronoPay]].

In an interview with p2pnet, a MediaServices representative said "It is disappointing that United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab completely and deliberately mischaracterized AllofMP3.com. Furthermore, it is irresponsible to use AllofMP3.com as a negotiating instrument in an attempt to extract concessions from Russia in return for US support for accession to the World Trade Organization".<ref>"[http://www.p2pnet.net/story/12348 p2pnet talks to AllofMP3.com] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120906024755/http://www.p2pnet.net/story/12348 |date=2012-09-06 }}" p2pnet, 28 May 2007</ref>

In July 2007, a Moscow court ruled that [[Visa (company)|Visa]]'s decision to cut off payments to allTunes was illegal.<ref>"[http://eng.cnews.ru/news/top/indexEn.shtml?2007/07/13/258719 Russian pirates get Visa in court] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823070406/http://eng.cnews.ru/news/top/indexEn.shtml?2007%2F07%2F13%2F258719 |date=2007-08-23 }}" [[CNews]] July 13, 2007</ref>

In August 2007, Denis Kvasov, head of the company which owned AllofMP3.com, was acquitted of all charges stemming from copyright infringement prosecution. The prosecution was seen as a test case of Russia's commitment to fighting [[piracy]], and was brought after [[EMI]], [[NBC Universal]] and [[Time Warner]] lobbied for such prosecution.<ref>"[https://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070815/wr_nm/russia_website_dc_2 Russian court acquits music site owner]" [[Yahoo News]] August 16, 2007</ref>

In January 2008 [[The Register]] reported that MP3Sparks.com and its associated web sites were being hosted (since December 2007)
by [[AbdAllah Internet]], a Turkish web hosting service which allegedly provides safe harbour for [[Spam (electronic)|spam]] and [[malware]] operations as well as having strong links to the [[Russian Business Network]]. For this reason access to the AbdAllah network is blocked by some ISPs, including all UK members of [[LINX]], therefore blocking access to MP3Sparks as well.<ref>"[https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/11/mp3sparks_cogent_abdallah/ MP3sparks.com downed by links to Russian cybercrime gang]" [[The Register]], January 11, 2008</ref>

On May 20, 2008, the [[RIAA]] dropped all copyright infringement charges against AllOfMP3.com.<ref>"[https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=as0feZVmo0_A]" [[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]]</ref>