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hbgator

Tue 06 Jun, 2006


British download fans face legal backlash

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British music fans are being warned they could face legal action for downloading music from a leading website.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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Thousands of British users have been using the Russian-based website AllofMP3.com to download tracks and albums at a fraction of their usual cost.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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But the website,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> which poses as a legitimate online store,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> actually sells pirated recordings.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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Now,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> the British music industry body,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> the BPI,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> said it will consider tracking down people who have breached copyright laws by downloading illegal tracks.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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Around 14 per cent of all downloads in the UK are through the website.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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A leading lawyer said that users of the site should wake up to the fact that they are funding criminals.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"Many users who download music from this site are likely to assume that as the site states it complies with Russian law and licence,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> and fees are being paid,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> everything is above board,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> said Alice Gould,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> a partner at law firm Wedlake bell.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"A huge number of people could be inadvertently breaking the law.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>"<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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AllofMP3 claims that a loophole in Russian copyright law allows it to sell tracks considerably cheaper than its western rivals.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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An entire album typically costs about <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>Ã<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>‚<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>Â<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>£1 too buy from the site,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> compared with 79p for an individual track through Apple's iTunes Music Store.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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It is not known exactly how many British users of the website realise that they are breaking the law,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> but Ms Gould believes that users should realise their mistake before they are faced with the consequences.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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The US media industry has already put pressure on Russian officials to close AllofMP3,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> to no avail.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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Reports have even suggested that American companies are taking the matter so seriously that it could quash Russia's attempt to join the World Trade Organisation


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squire

Tue 06 Jun, 2006



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Well,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> the legal download sites could always drastically cut their costs and price the site out of business,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> but isn't it funny that such reductions are never considered as an option?<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> What would the shareholders say?<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>:P