Russian quasi-legal music service AllOfMP3.com is back in the news. AllOfMP3.com released an iTunes-like client called, not coincidentally, allTunes. AllOfMP3.com already offers software called AllOfMP3 Explorer.

Also, a British survey shows that AllOfMP3.com is now the second most used music service there after iTunes. This market penetration shows the huge success the site has achieved with its low cost downloads. AllOfMP3 charges by bandwidth. Songs can cost from 5 to 20 cents and entire albums from 1 to 3 dollars.

RIAA and IFPI dispute the legality of AllOfMP3.com's service but have been unable to shut it down.

Consumers have long complained about current music services being too expensive and limiting. AllOfMP3's success shows there definitely is demand for inexpensive music in unrestricted formats. Indeed it makes for a superior alternative compared to unauthorized downloading via P2P, which is unreliable and filled with bogus files.

AllOfMP3.com publishes the following on their web site with regard to its legality:

The availability over the Internet of the ALLOFMP3.com materials is authorized by the license # LS-3М-05-03 of the Russian Multimedia and Internet Society (ROMS) and license # 006/3M-05 of the Rightholders Federation for Collective Copyright Management of Works Used Interactively (FAIR). In accordance to the licenses' terms MediaServices pays license fees for all materials downloaded from the site subject to the Law of the Russian Federation "On Copyright and Related Rights". All these materials are solely for personal use. Any further distribution, resale or broadcasting are prohibited.

The works available from ALLOFMP3.com are protected by the Law of the Russian Federation "On Copyright and Related Rights" and are for personal use of a buyer. Commercial use of such material is prohibited. Recording, copying, distribution on any media is possible only upon special consent of a Rightholder.

The user bears sole responsibility for any use and distribution of all materials received from AllOFMP3.com. This responsibility is dependent on the national legislation in each user's country of residence. The Administration of AllOFMP3.com does not possess information on the laws of each particular country and is not responsible for the actions of foreign users.