Allofmp3.com: Setting the
Record Straight
June 2nd, 2006
Allofmp3.com is not a legal service either in Russia
or anywhere else. It is distributing music without any permission from
the artists or copyright holders. Unlike all the legitimate sites, it
does not pay artists or copyright holders so it is effectively stealing
from those who create music. Like most things that appear to be too
good to be true, allofmp3.com is not what it seems.
The site claims to have a license from ROMS, a Russian
organization that claims to be a collecting society. Yet ROMS has no
rights from the record companies whatsoever to license these pieces of
music. ROMS and allofmp3.com are well aware that record companies have
not granted authorization for this service.
Downloading from allofmp3.com is illegal in most
countries. Consumers should not be fooled by allofmp3.com but download
from one the great value licensed and legitimate sites instead.
Allofmp3.com clearly violates rules enshrined in national copyright
laws and international copyright treaties, notably those established in
the EU Copyright Directive and World Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO) Treaties. Even if one took allofmp3.com's license from ROMS as
legitimate, which it is clearly not, it would still have no
extra-territorial effect. As the site itself acknowledges 'you are not
able to download audio and video from AllOFMP3.com if is in conflict
with the laws of your country of residence.' [sic];
Legal action is being taken against allofmp3.com.
There are two separate criminal proceedings ongoing in Russia regarding
Allofmp3 directly. The first case is against the former director of
MediaServices (the company that owns and runs the Allofmp3 service).
The public prosecutor in Moscow has taken on this case and it is now in
the trial phase. The second case is against a current director of
MediaServices. This case remains in the investigation phase and again
will be closely followed by IFPI.
In May 2005 a German court granted a preliminary
injunction against the site saying that it had no right to offer music
in Germany without the proper rights holders' consent. In October 2005
the Italian authorities shut down a portal, allofmp3.it, and began a
criminal investigation into it.
For further information please contact
Alex Jacob, Communications Team, IFPI, Tel: +44 (0)20 7878 7940
