AllofMP3: closure or booming?

Although some places are reporting that the IFPI has already embarked upon legal action against Vadim Mamotin and Denis Kvasov, the bosses at AllofMP3, it seems that's not quite the case yet - merely that they want to.

It does seem that Washington is prepared to lock Russia out of the World Trade Organisation WTO unless "something" is done about AllofMP3 - which just suggests what an insane and disproportionate influence the copyright lobby has on Capitol Hill:

Susan Schwab said Wednesday that Russia must shut down the site — which Washington considers to be one of the world's largest sources of pirated music — to get the United States' blessing to enter the world trade body.

"I have a hard time imagining Russia being a member of the WTO with a web site like that operating,'' Schwab told reporters in Washington.

So, the State happily looking the other way while critics of the President are slain? That's not a problem. Police turning up to take names and addresses of Georgians in what some are describing as a new purge? Never mind. Arbitrary arrest and torture in Chechnya? We'll turn a blind eye. Bullying of Ukraine by withholding gas? Not a peep. But woe betide Russia if someone sells a Hootie and the Blowfish track for a few kopeks without permission.

AllofMp3 don't mind too much being singled out like this:

"They are promoting us," Vadim Mamotin, general director of Mediaservices, which operates the site, said Thursday. He said the site was signing up thousands of new clients after the U.S. criticism.

Presumably they're hoping for a phonecall from Google.

music allofmp3 wto susan schwab