U.S. pushes Russia in WTO talks to close MP3 site

Russia's membership in WTO contingent on its shutting down pirate music site, U.S. trade official says.

The story "U.S. pushes Russia in WTO talks to close MP3 site" published October 5, 2006 at 4:29 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[G5Man]

LOL

Yeah....and nothing on American sites rob revenue from these
companies. This is all the US has to complain about??? Pretty
obvious the Gestopo....I mean RIAA is behind this. Too bad
Americans wouldn't keep their eye on the ball...and lets say...try
and prevent school shootings....oh no...Russias entrance to the
WTO depends on allofmp3 being shutdown.

Police your own backyard before everyone else. America is in
decline :(

[AgentSTS]

RE:

I couldn't agree more with you. The current administration is doing nothing more than '**** blocking' the serious issues through the old bait and switch.

"We need ISPs to retain records for years to protect children from predators!" Bulls**t. You know what can save children from perverted scum... parents who take an interest in the lives they choose to create! Everyone is so quick to lay blame on others for their failures and shortcomings. Oh, and forget that the week before they wanted the records kept for "the war on terror" and noone was buying it.

"We need to fine broadcasters if they even mention something that the most socially defective might fine offensive!" Bulls**t. You don't like it? Change the channel... maybe to that Christian channel that features Benny "scam for Jesus" Hinn or that old bat with the purple hair crying about how your love gifts will get her Cadillac new gold plated rims or her pink poodle a diamond accented dream cottage. Bling bling!

"We need to stick out noses in every other country's business to bring Democracy to the oppressed!" Bulls**t. Our country has gone from respected on the world stage to punch line. Let them kill each other. Sure, it's tragic and reprehensible in our value system. But, it's also none of our business how other soverign nations behave -- especially since we certainly don't have any resemblance of a moral or ethical high ground from which to preach.

You are right, we need to tend to our own affairs. Hypocracy = Washington D.C.

Don't get me wrong -- I'm not a hemp chewing, Spotted Owl-saving militant liberal. To me things have to make sense. The B.S. that this administration pulls daily and believes we are too stupid not to notice just doesn't add up.

Hell, I'd buy 'Da Prez' a truck load of pretzels if I could be sure he'd get a lot more than a black eye from choking on one (remember that a while back... I mean how stupid.) - I'd lay a wager that his father, Bush Sr., just got tired of his embarrasing antics and just came over and *****-slapped his son in the middle of the Oval Office. Now, that's something I'd pay $49.95 to see on pay-per-view!

[David Arbogast]

Wake Up

You obviously aren't understanding the article, or the scope of the WTO.

1 - Russia WANTS to be part of the WTO.
2 - WTO Members create the rules for the WTO.
3 - The WTO does NOT govern school shootings, RIAA, etc.
4 - Russia is STEALING American property and giving it away for free, which is a violation of WTO rules.

Can I spell it out any clearer? If Russia wants to be part of the WTO, then they have to abide by WTO rules - which include NOT stealing property from the International community. The WTO has no business governing anything else. Your rant is totally misplaced.

[cnutsucks]

Shows where the true American Spirit is

When the U.S. government is wasting resources on
http://www.teckmagazine.com/content/view/551/43/
MP3s in another country than fixing its own nationwide problems.

[richto]

ALLOFMP3.COM Is Legally Licensed Under the Berne Convention!

Much as the RIAA Gestapo dont seem to like it, allofmp3 holds a legitimate license to resell music and pays licensing fees to ROMS to compensate the rights holders.

As this is perfectly legal in Russia, any music so licensed is by defacto legally licensed for personal use anywhere else that is a signatory of the Berne convention too - including the USA.

The RIAA dont like it because they actually have a reasonable pricing model and dont force you to cripple your music with DRM.

[umbrae]

Yep!

The RIAA has for years eaten away at legal rights of consumers. The DMCA is a perfect example. We have a right to copy content for fair-use that is protected. However, the DMCA makes it illegal for ANY REASON to disable or circumvent DRM's. Therefore, you have a "right" to copy content under fair-use, but do not have the ability to do so without breaking DMCA laws.

[volterwd]

So do they

pay the fees? i doubt it

[wangbang]

more of the same

...more rationalization from the minds of petty thieves.

[df561]

!

hold your hatred it's not only about the RIAA, it's all about independent artists who are getting robbed blind by that "website"

totally disgraceful.

[writie]

AllofMP3 is based on a loophole in Russian legislation

The reference to the Berne Convention is misleading. From day one, it has been obvious that the loophole (if there is no physical object, it is not a copy - a 19th century notion) has to change. Not only for the world's interests, but also for Russia. It was only when effective copyright legislation was introduced to Hong Kong that they managed to create a music business there. AllofMP3 are sucking the world's music, but also acting as an obstacle for the nascent Russian music scene. Try and get someone to invest in a singer when he knows the tracks will be up on AllofMP3 overnight.

There's another example that is different but shows the real dangers of systematic piracy. Not many people know that the blues was born in Mali, in sub-Saharan Africa. Not many people know about it, as the last two labels gave up the ghost last year citing massive piracy at home as the reason.

Everyone likes to get a good deal. But when it gets to this level, piracy can kill music production.

[imacpwr]

RIAA more powerfull than Russia..???

It's scary to think that the RIAA possibly welds enough power to
have the USA threaten Russia with blockage to the WTO if it didn't
shut down a website..!!!

[tppcnet]

Georgia in my mind

I would think the Defender of Fffreedom and Democracy all over the known universe would be more concerned about Russia's bullying of Georgia than some rinky dinky music site.

But I suppose Georgia doesn't pay as well as RIAA does.

[badzed311]

Georgia

Russia bullying Georgia? Israel has invaded lebanon for way less than what they've done. And please do check on what georgia has do its own population of ethnic minorities like abhazians and ossetians.
And yes, allofmp3 does pay royalties according to russian legislation
http://allofmp3.com/statement.shtml?r=602639884

[heystoopid]

It's not about the music

It's not about the music, it's about US Corporations, moving to eliminate all emerging Russian rivals from the face of the earth!

But then again , Putin is a very smart and sophisticated operator, to have survived the turmoil of the nineties when many less cool heads lost theirs and literally went to the wall, and then to lead the diverse Russian Federation into a new age!

So until he sees a financial advantage for all the emerging Russian Corporations, he will continue to dangle the carrot in front of the very unsophisticated American negotiating team!

Don't forget, Putin is the man who reads the fine print to the last full stop, and can spot a moron at 100 paces, and will only move, if it is to his advantage!

Me thinks, this american trade negotiating team, has dealt all it's cards and has nothing left but the joker in reserve!

He is also a man well versed in the ways of international chess, unlike the babies that foggy bottom sent in!

[richto]

Yes they do pay the fees...

Yes they do. As ROMS have publically confirmed.

[PCCRomeo]

Robbing U.S. recording companies of sales!!!??

We're talking about a country with a median income of under $4k and the US government is talking about them robbing the RIAA?!! Come on! I don't think this site is going result in the repo of J-Lo's $13 million mansion or send Britney, her 2 kids, and dead-beat husband to the poor house!!

[David Arbogast]

You are confused

It makes no difference what the average income in Russia or America is. Jealousy of other people's money is never a sound argument.

The World Trade Organization sets standards and guidelines for international commerce. If Russians want better income, they might consider selling their goods and services in other countries. But if they don't abide by the agreements adhered to by the International community, then the International community won't want to do business with Russia.

This IS about improving economics in Russia. If members of the WTO play by the same rules, then they all benefit. If Russia doesn't want to govern commerce by WTO standards, then they don't have to... but their International business will not receive any of the benefits and trade agreements available to WTO members.

The question you are dancing around... is whether it is better for the Russian economy to participate in International business via the WTO... or whether it is better for their economy to let Russian organizations steal from the International community, thereby damaging trade relations and future deals.

[tania3000]

Wish they'd close THIS site ...

... namely that odd military facility in China recently found using Google Earth:

Articles with pictures:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/19/huangyangtan_mystery/
http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/the-riddle-of-chinas-area-51/2006/08/14/1155407679963.html

Google Earth forum post:
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php/Cat/0/Number/484568

That's the place in the middle of the desert where the Chinese Army has constructed a scale-model replica of the entire region of Aksai Chin (occupied by China since the 1962 war with India). At 1:500, it's still 700 by 900 meters big ( = several football fields). Next to it is a base with dozens of troop transporters seen coming and going. The duplicate shows everything: rivers, lakes, roads and snow-capped mountains. It's basically a landscape within a landscape.

The problem is that nobody has been able to figure out the function of this thing. The world's biggest miniature golf course, perhaps? China's own Area 51? That's why it's the subject of so much discussion in the blogosphere. The discoverer even had to set up his own blog to handle the buzz: foundinchina.blogspot.com

Any ideas?

[richto]

No one cares....

Pi55 off, no one cares.... Go find a relevant thread to post on...

[chuck_whealton]

She's kidding, right?

With all the other WAY MORE IMPORTANT and REALLY BAD
things going on via the Internet, she's worried about a single
Russian website pirating MP3s?

This was a joke of some type, right?

My God, this administration is so out of touch it's not even
funny.

Charles R. Whealton
Charles Whealton @ pleasedontspam.com

[bobby_brady]

Dear Allo3mp3.com, a lot of Americans are behind you!

We hope you don't cave in to the Nazi-like RIAA and MPAA who have obviously bought off our politicians. They have paid our politicians to specifically include your site as a "bargining" point in the WTO talks.

We hope you don't cave into the RIAA and MPAA political buyout.

[techie76]

US needs to comply with WTO also

Why is the US pushing Russia, the US lost in a WTO trade dispute with Antigua over the internet gambling scenario,why are they not doing what they are supposed to do and comply with the wto instead of harrasing other nations