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hbgator

Thu 30 Nov, 2006


Russia agrees to shut down Allofmp3.com

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Russia has agreed to shut down Allofmp3.com and other music sites based in that country that the U.S.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> government says are offering downloads illegally.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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The nation has struck the agreement with the Office of the U.S.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> Trade Representative as it seeks entry to the World Trade Organization.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> The U.S.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> has suggested that it would hold up Russia's acceptance in the WTO unless leaders there took action against digital piracy.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"Russia will take enforcement actions against the operation of Russia-based websites,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> according to a press release issued November 19 by the U.S.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> Trade Representative.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>(Russia will)<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> investigate and prosecute companies that illegally distribute copyright works on the Internet.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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On Wednesday,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> Allofmp3.com was still operating.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> Gretchen Hamel,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> a spokeswoman for the Office of the U.S.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> Trade Representative,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> said that she didn't know when the deal requires the Russian government to begin taking action.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"AllofMP3 doesn't expect the Russian government to take any action against the company since it operates within the current law,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> said Rory Davenport,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> an Allofmp3.com spokesman.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"The company is fully committed to its business.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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Allofmp3.com is one of many internationally based download sites that the U.S.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> and several other countries are trying to close down.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> Music labels and movie studios say that such sites are not authorized to sell music and don't compensate copyright holders.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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The move is a setback for Allofmp3.com,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> which has come under continued U.S.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> pressure in recent months.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> In October,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> Visa announced that it would no longer process the company's credit card transactions.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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Allofmp3.com has denied charges of piracy by pointing out that the company is compliant with Russian copyright law.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> It says it is careful to pay royalties to artists via the Russian Multimedia and Internet Society,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> which claims to represent copyright holders.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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The U.S.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> has never recognized that organization as legitimate and,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> as part of the agreement,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> requires Russia to stop such groups from <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"acting without right holder consent.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>


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aiolos

Fri 01 Dec, 2006


Re: Russia agrees to shut down Allofmp3.com

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There are lots of illegal things happening in Russia,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> but it's very interesting that the only <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>(or almost the only)<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> thing that the US ask is to shut down AllOfMP3.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> I guess the RIAA loby is pretty strong.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>