The allofmp3 sitcom continues. Reuters has an article about the latest hurdle to Russia's membership to the WTO and surprise, surprise, that is allofmp3.

The interesting bit is that the company behind the website is apparently acting according to the local law. It does pay money to the organisation representing the authors rights in Russia - which is what the Russian law says. It apparently treats internet music sales similarly to how radio broadcasts and coffee shop music are charged in other places.

Surely if a Russian company obeys the Russian law they do nothing bad. Well, it looks like the U.S. are trying to twist the arms of the Russian government to break their own laws and close down a law obiding website.

It's interesting to see how long they (U.S. and Russia) will continue measuring their lengths in this unanticipated mini-cold-war-repeat. The "Russia member of WTO" soap runs for 13 years already, surely there should be a new twist in the story.