This is the pressing issue that is keeping Russia out the WTO? A music retailer?
Russia, a country where oil, natural gas, metals, and timber account for nearly 80% of its exports, a country with 74 million laborers, a country that has existed in some form since the 12th century, is being held up from joining the rest of world’s super economic powers (of which it already is one) over music.
The sad fact is, Russia needs to join the WTO in order to gain some help with their myriad of other problems; a failing banking system, a dying manufacturing industry, and a business environment so corrupt, American reality looks almost as good as the American ideal.
So, what better time to hang the damn Ruskie’s over a barrel, right? I can’t imagine the amount of money being spent by the music industry to have US diplomats threaten a foreign government’s formal acceptance into a group they belong to in all but name.
I have never used AllOfMP3, not out of some sense of idealism, but more because I don’t quite trust the idea of coughing up my credit card number to a business that, it appears, will eventually be raided for information. I do wish I could support them somehow over this strong-arm crap being pulled at the WTO, though. There are far more important issues to worry about than music licensing.
BetaNews | US Official: AllofMP3 Must Shut Down