Legal Mp3 Download Without The Riaa Getting A Cent

[method77]

Services like Allofmp3.com, mp3.search.ru and 3mp3.ru are offering tracks from all labels and artists for prices that seem to good to be true. Songs can be downloaded for as little as $0.01 per MB.

When I first visited these sites I was convinced that this was some kind of fraud, but I have found evidence that these are completely legitimate operations.

The Russian Organization for Multimedia & Digital Systems (ROMS) has licensed the services. ROMS is a member of CISAC (www.cisac.org) - the International confederation of authors and composers societies. Under the license agreement the services pay out fees for downloaded materials. ROMS distributes the royalties to the authors. The artists do get paid.

The best service by far is Allofmp3.com. Their unique Online Encoding makes it possible to download the music in MP3, OGG, WMA, MPC or AAC, all in a variety of bit rates. All files are unprotected.

Of course the RIAA noticed this service. About two years ago they approached Russian officials to try and shut it down. The RIAA lawyers initially would not even get the time of day out of the Russian authorities. Eventually, the RIAA was told to worry about their own affairs. The RIAA inquired of Russian legal experts about pursuing a case, and they were told it would be thrown out of court immediately. That was the end of the RIAA's involvement in Allofmp3. They seem to have no authority, domestic or international, to affect Allofmp3's operations.

I know most of you hate paying for music and prefer P2P. You want to share the music you have. Here is more good news: you can also upload your albums to Allofmp3 or 3Mp3. Russian legislation allows both services to use the uploaded tracks for further distribution as long as they pay the copyrights. Amazing isn't it. For every Mb you upload you are entitled to 2Mb of downloading.

Interview with Allofmp3's content manager

[DudeAsInCool]

Rumour has it that its illegal for US citizens to download from there. I dont know if this is true or not. Anybody else heard?

[method77]

we tried it with a friend and it worked here

[rainbowdemon]

I've used Allofmp3.com. There is a fair amount of free stuff, if you are willing to take the time to dig for it. Not a bad site at all!!

[rainbowdemon]

Rumour has it that its illegal for US citizens to download from there. I dont know if this is true or not. Anybody else heard?

I've not heard anything about that. But the way the riaa works it probably is illegal in America.

[method77]

this is the best part

Here is more good news: you can also upload your albums to Allofmp3 or 3Mp3. Russian legislation allows both services to use the uploaded tracks for further distribution as long as they pay the copyrights. Amazing isn't it. For every Mb you upload you are entitled to 2Mb of downloading.

[rainbowdemon]

But the more I think about it, it's not illegal to d/l from a paid site. Allofmp3 is a paid site. Just something to think about.

[method77]

But the more I think about it, it's not illegal to d/l from a paid site. Allofmp3 is a paid site. Just something to think about.

that's why I used the 'legal' in the title

[rainbowdemon]

this is the best part

But is this saying that the user pays the copyright on the material he uploads?

[method77]

no, the site pays you. They pay by giving you the same amount in downloads. At least that's how I understand this

[rainbowdemon]

I must have misunderstood.

[Umma]

Surely the whole illegal thing about downloading music from anywhere is the breach of copyright.... so if those sites are using the money collected to pay for copyright then it should be legal?? The record industry seem to be throwing their toys out of the pram because they've lost the monopoly on the market.... they'd do much better to spend their money on rethinking how the industry works and investing in new marketing plans instead of constipating progress by throwing a tantrum.

[DudeAsInCool]

Well said, Ms U