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World’s second largest mp3 site closes

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Despite its consistent status as the second largest retailer of music downloads for iTunes, the Russian music site, Allofmp3.com, was closed down this week. According to various web watchers, the closure was ordered by the Russian government in response to a $1.65 trillion lawsuit.

The site has been the subject of several actions from the US and the UK, as record companies alleged copyright violations. Spearheading the latest push, the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA) said that its massive damages claim accounted for 11 million illegal files worth $150,000 each to their labels. However, site owner, MediaServices, has long stated that their business is legal under Russian law, and has subsequently set up a new music download service called mp3Sparks.com. In June last year, MediaServices argued: ‘AllofMP3.com is a Russian business that is in complete compliance with Russian law.’

John Kennedy, president of International Federation of the Phonographic Industries (IFPI) – the membership of which comprises approximately 1400 record companies in 75 countries – was delighted with the news. He told the BBC: ‘Allofmp3.com violated copyright law in Russia and internationally, by ripping off artists and creators, taking music that it had no right to reproduce and selling it worldwide.’

Labels including Arista – whose catalogue includes albums by Westlife, Whitney Houston and The Kinks – Capitol and Warner Bros filed against the site in 2006, stating the company was selling songs without permission. MediaServices’ new site warns customers to obey their own government’s laws with respect to downloading.

Meanwhile, a Belgian court has stated that Internet Service Providers must take responsibility for stopping illegal file-sharing on their networks. This follows a ruling brought by SABAM, the body representing authors and composers in Belgium, against Tiscal. The ruling sets an important precedent in the international fight against piracy.