For what's it's worth, I use mp3caprice.com to download zipped music. The prices are pretty fair and I don't have to store another CD on the shelf. The bitrate is decent and I can find albums that aren't available anymore. The bonus for me is, since I subscribe to Mojo magazine, I can Youtube new artists and if I like them, go download the music.
That looks like piracy, but paying someone for it? Thanks, but I actually prefer to support the artists I listen to, and when I can’t afford to, or it’s impractical, to not pay those who prevent artists from getting money.
The gist seems that buying stuff there may be legal if you are Ukrainian or are actually in Ukraine, and quite probably isn't if you are anywhere else.
The RIAA certainly considers them shipless pirates. You are probably paying criminals, and almost certainly are not paying artists.
1: There seem to be a bunch of them, which smells a bit like a coordinated effort.
You posted this four hours after my comment (above) which already provides two links which cast a clear doubt on the legality of mp3caprice.com. A quick web search returns dozens of links to people questioning the legality, and several of people or organisations giving good arguments as to why they are not.
If you want more proof, just look at mp3caprice.com itself. Where is the usual legal stuff like the procedure for reporting claimed infringement? Their single form of contact is a web form. Their privacy policy even lacks a way to contact them.
> According to the music industry Mp3va.com and Mp3caprice.com are popular unlicensed pay
per download websites hosted allegedly in Ukraine, which provide mainly music.
> […]
> These sites claim to have a copyright licence for their business from the Ukrainian collecting
society called AVTOR, which reportedly has no mandate to represent foreign rightholders.
I'm sure you'll come up with another rationalization, but your money is definitely not going to the artists (unless perhaps you are listening exclusively to Ukranian bands). Just be honest with yourself: you find mp3caprice.com's service convenient and are willing to pay them for it. Just don't pretend that it is the legal route.
If you actually wish to know if they are legal today (rather than just pretend they are), why not ask your national recording industry association? They'll know.
