MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) -- A Russian court found the former boss of music download Web site
www.allofmp3.com not guilty of breaching copyright on Wednesday in a case considered a crucial test of Russia's commitment to fighting piracy.
The allofmp3.com Web site angered Western music companies by undercutting the price of downloads in deals they said breached copyright law.
Denis Kvasov, head of MediaServices which owned the site, was put on trial after entertainment companies EMI Group Plc, NBC Universal and Time Warner Inc. pressed for a prosecution.
"The prosecution did not succeed in presenting persuasive evidence of his involvement in infringing copyright law," said judge Yekaterina Sharapova.
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"The prosecution did not succeed in presenting persuasive evidence of his involvement in infringing copyright law," Yekaterina Sharapova, presiding judge in the Cheremushkin District Court, in Moscow, said in her verdict.
Ms Sharapova said, however, that she wanted to "draw attention to the sloppy job done by prosecutors in collecting and analysing the facts," adding that lawyers had to be "careful in collecting evidence in connection with intellectual rights violations."
The IFPI reiterated its view that the allofmp3.com was in breach of the law, and said it hoped the prosecutor would appeal the ruling and that the decision would be reversed.
"This ruling in no way affects the illegality of allofmp3.com and similar services that reproduce and make available music without the consent of the artists and record producers that created it," Jo Oliver, vice president for litiagation and regulatory affairs at the IFPI, said.
Two other cases against current directors of Media Services which also relate to
allofmp3.com are pending.
EMI, Warner Music and Universal had been seeking 15 million rubles (£293,000) in damages from Media Services, according to the IFPI. All three labels declined to comment today.
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