After having
its
credit card service pulled by Visa, AllOfMP3 is facing a much darker fate
despite its plans to become a free, ad-supported service. According to
this document released by the Office of the United States Trade
Representative, the Russian government will crack down on piracy and copyright
infringement as part of its entry into the World Trade Organization. One of the
subjects of the crackdown will be AllOfMP3, as evidenced by the following
passage:
"The United States and Russia agreed on the objective of shutting
down websites that permit illegal distribution of music and other copyright
works. The agreement names the Russia-based website allofmp3.com as an example
of such a website." The document goes on to say that the Russian government
will "work to enact legislation" by June 1, 2007, suggesting that AllOfMP3 might
only have a few months to live before it is taken down and its owners face
prosecution.
