Russian-based music download site

[britishcomposer]

Here is the answer, Christopher! Would you like to give us a neat translation, please!
I tried google but didn't quite understand...

Здравствуйте, Mathias.

Этот сайт - некоммерческий проект, созданный для систематизации и популяризации классической и современной академической музыки. Записи загружают сами пользователи (многие из которых сами являются композиторами или проф. музыкантами). При загрузке каждый пользователь обязательно предупреждается, что размещение записи не должно нарушить чьи-либо авторские права. К сожалению, мы не в состоянии лично проверить каждый файл, поэтому вынуждены доверять в этом вопросе нашим пользователям. Но все же, если Вы считаете, что та или иная запись может нарушать чьи-либо права, пожалуйста, не слушайте ее и немедленно покиньте эту страницу!
Благидарим за понимание.

[Christopher]

It says the following:

Hello Mathias,

This site is a non-commercial project, created for the systematization and popularization of classical and contemporary academic music. The recordings are uploaded by the user themselves (many of whom are themselves composers or professional musicians). At the time of uploading, each user is given notice that distributing/placing recordings must not violate any authorship rights. Unfortunately, we are not in a position to verify each file, therefore it is necessary to trust our users on this issue. But nevertheless, if you have reason to believe that a recording may be in violation of copyright laws, please do not listen to it and leave the page immediately!
Thank you for your understanding.

[Mark Thomas]

Hmmm...

[Alan Howe]

Yes, double-hmmmmmmm............

[TerraEpon]

In other words, "we're just the host, it's not our fault if someone violates our guidelines". Most content hosting websites have terms like that.

[Ilja]

In other words, "we're just the host, it's not our fault if someone violates our guidelines". Most content hosting websites have terms like that.

... and few get away with it.

[Amphissa]

The laws of the hosting country do not apply in the U.S. It is my understanding that U.S. citizens are expected to comply with U.S. copyright law. Which would make it illegal for us to download any recordings still covered by U.S. copyright law, no matter who is hosting them.

This became a big issue in the U.S. when the copyright on recordings by major opera stars began emerging from copyright protection in Europe. Recordings by Maria Callas, Caruso, etc, could be legally distributed in Europe because copyright protection had expired. However, in the U.S., where copyright protection lasts longer (and now seems interminable), it remains illegal to distribute or download them.

Naxos encountered this problem with its historic recordings series. Even now, there are Naxos CDs that can be sold everywhere else in the world, but are not available in the U.S.

The frightening thing is that the U.S. has been trying to insert into the international trade agreement currently being renegotiated a policy that would impose much longer and stricter copyright requirements throughout the world. Europe, Australia, Canada and South American countries would be directly affected by this.

The thing is, it evades the legislative processes of all countries, because it is a treaty, not a law, and as such, may not be closely scrutinized and may receive little review or public debate before signing. It's a nasty ploy by the U.S. government, who are in the pockets of the Hollywood music and movie industry.

Luckily, a number of countries caught on to the trick and have been giving the U.S. push back on this issue.

I am very supportive of musicians and the labels, but I am still quite critical of the industry tactics in the U.S. My university was recently sent a notice requiring $250,000 in payment to the RIAA to cover "illegal downloading" via university computer network of music and movies. The RIAA also tracks down and sues individuals. They've sued thousands of them. And as a result, there is now widespread hatred of the industry by the populace, and it has resulted in a revolt of sorts by young people who now brag about having never paid for a single CD or movie, engendering systematic downloading of anything and everything. They've shot themselves in the foot. And unfortunately, labels and artists suffer this consequences of the ill-conceived strategy of the RIAA.

Sorry, rant over. Watch your back.