Russian music download site sends defiant message to US

[Freedom_from_Chains]

Let's just see if we can piss off everyone in the world while we're at it.

Russian music download site allofmp3.com insisted it was a legitimate business and said US accusations of piracy were merely an excuse to keep Russia out of the World Trade Organisation.
"The US government is conveniently using allofmp3 as an issue to gain further concessions from Russia," said company boss Vadim Mamotin and other executives.


"We operate under Russian law, we pay taxes in Russia and we pay royalties," they said in response to journalists' questions in an online news conference.

Russia has campaigned for 12 years to join the WTO but the United States is still witholding its endorsement of Moscow's candidacy -- it is the only major economy that has not yet backed Russia's bid -- citing shortcomings in several key trade sectors.

Moscow wants to join the organisation both for the prestige of membership and as a means to spur diversification in its own economy, still focused heavily on raw materials export.

But US negotiators have repeatedly returned to the issue of the worldwide music sales of allofmp3.com -- protection of intellectual property being a major stumbling block in Russia's negotiations to join the club.

(con't) http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/10/17/061017182658.m5h8dscn.html

[magellan]

1. Russia should stop abusing copyrights

...and start abusing more of its citizens, like China. We don't have a problem with that.

[lvx35]

2. Oh yeah, great.

Lets economically fuck Russia. Let's keep em in the "raw materials exports" trade. Its not like we need to worry about raw materials coming out of Russia for money, especially the ones sitting in warheads in underground silos

[Greyhound]

3. How many times can these assholes make the worst possible

decision available at every single opportunity. I swear to god, present these dimwits with five options, four of which will accomplish something positive, they will choose number five every damn time. :grr:

[ClintonTyree]

4. That's Bush's bravado leaking through.......

into every aspect of American, and I certainly hate to use this word in connection to Bush, 'diplomacy'. You see, he SOOOOOOOOO wants to be viewed as a Ronald Reagan type guy (why? I have no idea), a tough, no nonsense man of steel who refuses to bend when he's convinced he's right (which is always). Reagan was a pinheaded, doddering old fool and Bush can't even come close to matching THAT.
Yep, it's georgie's way or the highway. Looks as if it's the highway because not one world leader takes Bush seriously. Well, maybe Tony Blair but what does that say about HIM?

[ToeBot]

5. Perhaps this isn't just Bush Administration ineptitude...

Groups like the RIAA now wield an inordinate amount of power. (And they are getting more all the time - it's one area where Sensenbrenner and Conyers seem to get along just dandy.) Why would it surprise anyone that Bush and pals are willing to stick it to some foreigners just to appease the interests of business.