BPI, the UK's music label trade organization, late last week filed a lawsuit against the Russian Web site AllofMP3.com, which sells songs at incredibly cheap prices but claims it is complying with its country's copyright laws. However, Russian copyright law does allow the company to sell music without the consent of rights holders.

Macworld UK's Jonny Evans quoted BPI General Counsel Roz Groome as noting: "This is an important step forward in our battle against AllofMP3.com. We have maintained all along that this site is illegal and that the operator of the site is breaking UK law by making sound recordings available to UK based customers without the permission of the copyright owners. Now we will have the opportunity to demonstrate in the UK courts the illegality of this site."

He added: "The reason AllofMP3.com downloads are cheap, is that neither the artists nor the record companies are being paid. It is only the operator of the site who is benefiting from the sales to UK customers."

Last month, American record companies expressed frustration over their inability to shut down the Russian Web site. Neil Turkewitz, executive vice president of the Recording Industry Association of America, said at the time: "It is totally unprecedented to have a pirate site operating so openly for so long."