ALLOFMP3 SUED BY U.S. RECORD LABELS Just before our final emailer of 2006, we read that AllofMP3.com had been sued by the major record labels in New York. But the site is based in Russia. It is unclear how any U.S. court ruling can have an effect on this Russian site. The record labels claim that AllofMP3 has been profiting by selling copies of music without their permission. AllofMP3 typically charges under US$1 for an entire album and just a few cents per track. By contrast, an album at Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes Music Store and other licensed services typically costs about US$10 and a song 99 cents. Also, AllofMP3 does not have DRM on their tracks and they can be recopied for use on other players and computers. AllofMP3 has maintained that by paying royalties to a Russian licensing group, the Web site is in compliance with Russian laws. The RIAA has refused to accept payment from the Russian licensing group ROMS. It is interesting to note the flipside in China, where major labels have pressed CDs to be sold ONLY in China at extremely low prices. Some of these have been smuggled out of China and are sold cheap relative to US/UK CD prices. They are properly packaged and have good sound. You can find some in major record stores in $ingapore selling at around S$10 a disc = US$6.60. You can read AllofMP3s statement on their legality here: http://www.museekster.com/allofmp3faq.htm#Will%20the%20RIAA%20or%20the%20IFP... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I sent my soul into the invisible, Some letter of that after life to spell. And by and by my soul returned to me And answered, I myself am heaven and hell. - Omar Khayyam (Rubaiyat) Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.yahoo.com