The top exec at AllofMP3.com, Denis Kvasov, has been found innocent of copyright infringement in a Russian court, according to a report from Ars Technica. What it boils down is a technicality. Denis officially stepped down from AllofMP3 in 2005, well before Russia revised their copyright law to make AllofMP3’s business illegal.

While this is great for Denis, it won’t necessarily stop the Russian government from pursuing litigation against other members of the AllofMP3 team.

Music, Music Everywhere

AllofMP3

What is most interesting about this is how little shutting down AllofMP3 did to stop music piracy. Less than a week after the site was shut down, a near exact mirror (mp3spark) came up in its place. In reality, it served more to sate the RIAA’s lobbyists than it did to increase revenue for an industry that still seems unable to reconcile itself with digital distribution.

Web 2.0 Roundup

Well this reprieve for AllofMP3 have any meaning? In the long run, probably not. However, it does serve as a symbolic gesture on the part of the Russian government that is probably acting more out of necessity than actual zeal. I wonder if anyone in the recording industry is paying attention.