Allofmp3 the controversial Russian Music Service has added a new encoding method to their online encoding feature. Users can now choose to download most of the albums in the MPEG4 AAC format, compatible with iPod and iTunes.
Aside from the astonishing low price level, the main difference with the iTunes Music Store is the absence of copy protections.
The legality of Allofmp3 however remains highly controversial. Although the Russian copyrights organization ROMS has confirmed that Allofmp3 is licensed to offer music for download, the question if users outside Russia can legally use this service remains unanswered. A thing that makes Allofmp3 even more questionable is that this service offers about every album The Beatles have ever released, including some bootlegs. EMI has clearly declared some time ago: “The Beatles have chosen not to put their music online”.
Another feature that does not quite fit in our perception of a Legal Download Service is their Wanted Program, which allows users to upload their albums. In an interview Allofmp3’s content manager has acknowledged that users may by violating copyrights using this Wanted Program, yet Allofmp3 is allowed to use these uploads as long as they pay royalties for the downloads of these files.
In a recent article the anti-RIAA community has called upon their members to use Allofmp3 as a method to boycott the RIAA. This has started a flaming discussion on the subject of the legality of Russian Music services.
Rumor has it that the RIAA tried to close down Allofmp3 two years ago. The RIAA has neither confirmed nor denied this so far. As a matter of fact they remain unusually silent when it comes to Allofmp3. That makes you wonder…….
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