AllofMP3.com

Okay, this is the last FamilyFirst pick as a result of my rage at not being able to purchase edited DVD's.

The MPAA walks hand in hand with the RIAA. They are both ostensibly out there to protect the interests of the artists that they purport to represent, but in reality it is blatantly obvious that they are much more concerned with protecting the interests of the MPAA and the RIAA.

Any time there are delivery methods suggested to take advantage of online distribution of movies and music produced by artists represented by these organizations, they have consistently opposed their usage.

You see, what is most profitable to them is if individuals purchase DVD's or CD's. CD's cost around fifteen bucks when they were introduced back in the mid 80's. The CD's themselves were expensive, probably costing the record companies three or more dollars for each one. That means that their profits came above and beyond that amount.

Today, CD's are probably available in bulk to record companies for a few cents apiece. That means that CD's are cheaper now, right?

New releases sell at the local Wal-Mart for, you guessed it, about fifteen bucks.

Today's FamilyFirst site has been a major target of the RIAA. It operates in Russia, under Russian copyright law. Basically, that means it pays the artists directly, bypassing the RIAA. They claim it is illegal. The law suggests otherwaise.

Allow me to quote from Museekster.com, a site that reviews online music stores:

We have thoroughly investigated the legal issues.
Russian copyright legislation allows phonograms to be performed publicly without the authorization of the copyright owner for broadcasting and cable transmission. (Article 39) The Internet could be deemed to fall under this exemption. The copyrights involved have to be paid to a collecting society. This is the 'loophole' that is referred to in several articles on Allofmp3.
New legislation will come in to effect as of September 1st 2006. We are not sure if this new law will close the loophole. A translated copy of the amended copyright laws can be found at Roms.ru.

So for now, at least, there is a music download service that allows you to purchase music online, in nearly any form you wish, with NO DRM. The music is YOURS, to use as you wish. No Sony rootkits. No using file sharing software. And no RIAA.

The aforementioned dinosaur is pressuring congress to take away Russian most favored nation trading status unless they shut this site down. Here's hoping that they fail, and fade away and vanish afterwards. This organization no more represents artists' rights than the USDA represents rights of cattle.

http://allofmp3.com

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