Russian Download Store AllofMP3 Reacts to Visa, MasterCard Bans

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 20, 2006 - 2:12pm.
Moscow - Reacting to the blow that came as two major credit card companies halted payment processing for its controversial music download store, Russia-based AllofMP3.com called the actions "arbitrary, capricious and discriminatory," adding that it may seek legal recourse to reverse the decisions. The site sells albums for about $2 each, and claims to be legal under Russian law and hold a valid license from a Russian copyrights society. This week, both Visa and MasterCard ceased processing payments for the site.

"Visa and MasterCard should immediately re-qualify AllofMP3," said AllofMP3 director general Vadim Mamotin. "There is no valid reason and absolutely no legal basis for the action."

Record labels tried last year to compel Russian authorities to shut the site down, but prosecutors in Moscow declined to pursue the case. Recently, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab said the site is a sign that Russia doesn't respect intellectual property, and could affect the country's accession to the World Trade Organization. "It is evident that Visa and MasterCard made the decision on factors other than legal grounds since the decision was not based on an adjudicated verdict by any court in the Russian Federation or, for that matter, anywhere in the world," AllofMP3 said.

Related Links:
http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=182003
http://www.ifpi.org/site-content/press/20061018.html
http://www.allofmp3.com

Comments

AllofMP3 is wonderfully built

I won't candy-coat this... thankfully there are several ways to pay for the AllofMP3 service so Visa and Mastercard be damned. The selection of music available at the brilliantly designed site simly blows the doors off iTunes, Rhapsody, eMusic, etc. They offer a longer preview than the typical (and utterly useless) 30 seconds per song that every other site offers, which for some types of music (ambient for instance) is a god-send. Furthermore, unlike the infuriating iTunes, you can preview an entire album at once. Also importantly, you can choose the quality of the download in terms of bitrate, all the while purchasing music at prices that make me buy more music and expose myself to many more bands and albums than I would at a buck a track. The fact that the record labels have elected to not sign on with the Russian version of performance rights organizations BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC is not AllofMP3's fault. And the truth is that I buy more discs now from Amazon et al BECAUSE I have been exposed to so much more incredible music at great prices from AllofMP3. The RIAA and the U.S. gov't have absolutely got to end the Gestapo-like policing of this issue. Enough said.

how to pay for all of mp3 downloads

I totally agree. Do you know other ways of paying for the downloads? thanks gg

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.