Editing AllOfMP3

{{Infobox online service
|name= AllOfMP3 
|logo= [[File:Allofmp3logo.png|223px]]
|image= 
|launched= 2000
|platform= Platform Independent
| availability = [[Russia]], legal status in other locations is questionable.
|website= {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160305031739/http://allofmp3.ru/ allofmp3.ru]}}
[http://www.alltunes.com www.AllTunes.com]
[http://www.allofmp3.com www.allofmp3.com]
}}

'''AllOfMP3''', '''MP3Sparks''' and '''MemphisMembers''' are brands of [[online music store]] that were operated by Mediaservices, Inc., a company founded in 2000 in [[Moscow]], [[Russia]]. The stores formerly sold music encoded in standard, [[Digital rights management|non-protected]] audio formats at a significantly lower cost than other online music stores. In 2008, the original AllOfMp3 site was replaced by a blog.

The company has been plagued by [[#Legal issues|legal issues]] for some time due to accusations, mainly from the [[record industry]], that they are operating illegally and engaging in [[music piracy]].<ref name=nytimes_popular>"[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/01/world/europe/01cnd-mp3.html?ex=1306814400&en=4c9bcba30952e86b&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss Russian Download Site Is Popular and Possibly Illegal]", ''[[The New York Times]]'', June 1, 2006</ref>

== Revenue ==

Run by the Moscow company MediaServices, AllOfMP3 had an estimated revenue of US$30 million in 2006.<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> According to the [[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|IFPI]] and various other label representatives the company has never transferred money to any (western) label. AllofMP3 claims to have offered settlements to IFPI, which AllOfMP3 claims IFPI refused to accept.

== 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>

== Closure of AllOfMP3 ==

In June 2007, AllOfMP3 announced on their site that they were "closed for maintenance", while Times Online reported that an unnamed person claiming to be an ex-employee told them it was closed down following pressure from the [[Government of Russia|Russian government]]. MP3Sparks, however, remained available,<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20080515200704/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2016297.ece Russia shuts down Allofmp3.com]" [[Times Online]], July 2, 2007</ref> as did the AllTunes download service.

Following the acquittal of Denis Kvasov by a Moscow court in August 2007, a brief message was posted at the site's blog, stating "The service will be resumed in the foreseeable future".<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6967172.stm Russian music site to 'relaunch']" [[BBC News Online]], August 28, 2007</ref>

== About the services ==

The sites offer [[Russian language|Russian]] and [[English language|English]] user interfaces. All functions, except for the buying of songs and full length song previews, are available to unregistered users (and full length preview of songs is restricted to individuals who have spent a total of $50 or more on the website). Registration is free. The store maintains an account balance for each user; while a user's account has a positive balance, they can continue downloading music. To do so, the user selects the files for download from the store's catalog.

===Pricing model===

Unlike some US-based music stores such as [[Apple Computer|Apple]]'s [[iTunes Store]], MediaServices' sites charge for the volume of data downloaded, not for individual songs.

This price is often reduced by a complicated system of discounts based on cumulative usage, promotions, and type of payment.

===Payment methods===

The sites operate using a pre-paid balance method. Users fund their account using a [[Credit card|credit]] or [[debit card]], in increments of US$10 or more.

However, action taken in late 2006 by [[Visa (company)|Visa]] and [[MasterCard]]<ref>"[http://news.cnet.com/Visa+halts+its+service+for+allofmp3.com/2100-1027_3-6127168.html Visa halts its service for allofmp3.com]" [[CNET]], October 18, 2006</ref><ref>"[https://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/10/19/allofmp3_attacks_visa_and_mastercard/ Blacklisted AllofMP3 slams 'capricious' Visa and Mastercard]" [[The Register]], October 19, 2006</ref> made it impossible for users to fund their accounts at the main AllOfMP3 site.

Users outside UK and US can also pay using a variety of credit cards at ChronoPay processor. ChronoPay had announced on March 20, 2007, that they would no longer be processing payments from online Russian music stores that only hold a [[Russian Organization for Multimedia and Digital Systems|ROMS]] license (e.g. AllOfMP3), but this does not apply to MP3Sparks which has an [[:ru:ФАИР|NP FAIR]] license.<ref>"[http://www.chronopay.com/en/content/view/218/121/ JSC ChronoPay accepts Russian music stores with NP FAIR license only]" ([http://www.chronopay.com/ ChronoPay] press release)</ref>

Between April and June 2007, it had become difficult for users to fund their AllOfMP3 accounts themselves, and a number of users and sites began selling AllOfMP3 gift vouchers on the Internet. However, in May 2007 a man who had been selling vouchers was arrested in London,<ref>"[https://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070521-allofmp3-voucher-operation-shut-down-in-europe.html AllofMP3 voucher operation shut down in Europe]" [[Ars Technica]], May 21, 2007</ref> and this led many other voucher sellers to shut down their operations.

===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 bitrate]]s up to 320&nbsp;kbit/s or [[variable bitrate]]s up to maximum quality in the following formats:
*[[MP3]]
*[[Windows Media Audio|WMA]]
*[[Ogg Vorbis]]
*[[Advanced Audio Coding|MPEG4-AAC]]
*[[Musepack|MPC]]
Select albums are also being made available in [[Lossless data compression|Lossless audio codecs]] in the following formats:
*[[FLAC]]
*[[Pulse-code modulation|PCM]]
*[[Monkey's Audio]]
*[[OptimFROG]]
*[[Windows Media Audio#Windows Media Audio Lossless|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.

The websites also offer free, full album previews, streamed at a bitrate of 24 kilobits per second (roughly equivalent to analog [[telephone]] audio quality). Registered users who have spent less than $50 have access to 90 second samples, and unregistered users have access to 30 second samples.

==== Music for Masses ====

In late 2006, AllOfMP3 experimented with a feature called "Music for Masses" which allowed users to download [[digital rights management|DRM]]-protected music for free.<ref>"[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/18/technology/18musiccnd.html?hp&ex=1161230400&en=b3505998b2c3b2a7&ei=5094&partner=homepage Moscow Music Site Defends Free Downloads]" [[The New York Times]] October 18, 2006</ref> The files were encoded in a proprietary MP3 format (.mp3x) that could only be played in the Music for Masses player, and could not be transferred to a portable media device. However, the DRM protection was cracked within a week.<ref>"[https://www.engadget.com/2006/10/25/musicforme-cracks-allofmp3s-drm-hilarity-ensues/ MusicForMe cracks AllOfMP3's DRM, hilarity ensues]" [[Engadget]], October 25, 2006</ref> Although AllOfMP3 released a compulsory update to the player software which rendered the original crack unusable, they eventually removed the service in December 2006.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
* [https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/search/display.html?terms=phonorecord&url=/uscode/html/uscode17/usc_sec_17_00000402----000-.html US CODE: Title 17,402. Notice of copyright: Phonorecords of sound recordings]
* [https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/search/display.html?terms=phonorecord&url=/uscode/html/uscode17/usc_sec_17_00000602----000-.html US CODE: Title 17,602. Infringing importation of copies or phonorecords]
*[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/Ukpga_19880048_en_3.htm#mdiv22 UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (c. 48), Section 22. Secondary infringement: importing infringing copy]

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* [http://www.allofmp3.ru/ AllOfMP3.ru] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707172723/http://www.allofmp3.ru/ |date=2007-07-07 }} AllOfMP3 homepage.

{{Music digital distribution platforms}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Allofmp3}}
[[Category:Computer- and telecom-related cases in Russia]]
[[Category:Defunct digital music services or companies]]
[[Category:Defunct online music stores]]
[[Category:Online music stores of Russia]]
[[Category:Notorious markets]]