Case dismissed for AllofMP3 founder Kvasov

It looks like AllofMP3 founder Denis Kvasov will be evading any time in the gulag, at least for the moment. If you'll recall, EMI, Universal, and Warner Music filed suits against the highly dubious MP3-portal's founder after launching a whirlwind attack resulting in Mastercard and Visa pulling their services for the Russian-based site, and the eventual collapse of the pretty-much-illegal download service. The suit sought damages from the "entrepreneur" to the tune of 15 million rubles (about $590,700 US), but according to reports, a Cheryomushky District Court judge threw out the case against Kvasov, stating that a legal loophole allowing AllofMP3's particular kind of online music distribution continued through 2006 -- one year after Kvasov left the company. Of course, two more cases are pending against the mogul, so it seems likely we'll be hearing a lot more on this in the coming days and weeks.

[paul34 @ Aug 15th 2007 4:49PM]

Congrats man!!

We're rooting for you! Hope you beat those other two cases too.

[Mike @ Aug 15th 2007 4:55PM]

I say again, AllofMP3 was never really shut-down. I also kept funding my account by credit card when it was claimed it would no longer work.

[eh @ Aug 15th 2007 4:58PM]

Just $500,000? Isnt that the usual amount the RIAA sues 12 year old paraplegic girls for? With cancer?

[telepheedian @ Aug 15th 2007 5:16PM]

Yeah, doesn't the RIAA usually sue about $50,000 per song?

[Revrant2394 @ Aug 15th 2007 5:37PM]

Think of Lars, Think of the Gold Plated Swimming pools, people.

[lapa @ Aug 15th 2007 7:50PM]

telepheedian, they would have no chances in Russian court with such numbers.

[Totalfixation @ Aug 15th 2007 4:59PM]

hip hip hooray!!!

[oshean @ Aug 15th 2007 5:18PM]

In Soviet Russia, All of MP3 are belong to us

[Goldaar @ Aug 15th 2007 5:32PM]

In Soviet Russia, mp3 plays you!

[The General @ Aug 15th 2007 5:37PM]

I love how these /. jokes are just now getting here.

They were over used on /., no need to over use them here too ...

[Barry @ Aug 15th 2007 5:55PM]

So how exactly is this pretty-much-illegal when Russian courts acknowledged the "legal loophole" that made it legal? Can you cite the law that was broken, and explain how he was subject to that law, or is that too much like real journalism? Seems like accusing someone of being a criminal when they haven't broken the law is pretty-much-libel.

Hint: if Country A outlaws something, and you do it in Country B where it's legal, *you're not breaking the law*. No matter how big of a temper tantrum the United States, er, country A, throws.

[mr friggles @ Aug 15th 2007 8:19PM]

I hope this libelous article doesn't hurt the Kvasov from continuing is enterprises (which as stated above are LEGAL) cause if it does & its provable he does have every right to seek damages.

[foxdie @ Aug 15th 2007 8:29PM]

I still had $5 in my account with them!!!

[Aaron @ Aug 16th 2007 1:51AM]

Heh, yeah, I had $6-something in there when they disappeared. Disappointing, since it would have been a couple albums...

[nxtiak @ Aug 16th 2007 1:58AM]

If you guys downloaded the PC software for allofmp3 (or the replacement) use your login/password and it all works. Your credits are still there.

There are however 2 replacements for allofmp3.com
1 of them works with your login/pass u had with allofmp3 (so all your credits are there)
the other u have to re-register for.
Both look/feel/act exactly like allofmp3.com

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Aug 16th 2007 4:17PM]

> legal loophole

There were never loopholes.

Copyrights were never to artistic works in USSR nor in Russia.

All artistic stuff is basically treated as service. If you have sung a song - this is your performance and your song. That's authorship. If I have paid money for your concert and made a recording of your performance - this is still your performance. But recording is mine - and I can do with it whatever I want. I have paid (with ticket to concert) money for it.

To put it simply, the laws are shaped after older mentality: artists should receive money for performance - not display of once recorded performance.

[musmon @ Sep 20th 2007 7:12PM]

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