Arista, Capitol, Warners, Capitol and Universal Music Group have disclosed that they are seeking $1.65 trillion from the Russian music site AllOfMP3.com, claiming that the site is subject to US law, even though it operates entirely in Russia. (One wonders how the record companies feel if a Saudi Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice argued that their music put them in contravention of Shari'a law.)
This the latest salvo in the entertainment industry's new war on Russia, which has also included a recent US/Russia Free Trade Agreement in which Russia was forced to agree to license and police CD and DVD presses. Uncle Sam, bringer of freedom.
The astounding $1.65 trillion figure was calculated by multiplying the statutory damages of $150,000 per infringement (provided for in the No Electronic Theft Act) by the 11 million songs that AllOfMP3.com has sold.
(via /.)
See also:
US Trade Representative bends Russia over on copyright
Record labels sue the bejeezus out of AllofMP3.com
AllOfMP3 loses Visa account, switching to ad-supported
Is it legal to buy songs from Russian MP3 sites?
Russian MP3 site sells music for about five cents a song
Russian MP3 site given thumbs up by investigators
