"VKontakte" is integrated with iTunes

"VKontakte" is integrated with iTunes
"VKontakte" decided to legalize partially musical content, having put in the mobile application of the reference to songs from iTunes shop


"VKontakte" decided to legalize partially musical content, having put in the mobile application of the reference to songs from iTunes shop. However, the appendix while is blocked by Apple.

"In the closest updating of our iOS-applications among other things we integrate support of iTunes, – the representative of "VKontakte" Georgy Lobushkin told. – That is all music which users exchange in the appendix of a social network for iPad, it will be possible to get in some clicks in musical shop". The representative of Apple refused comments. But that "VKontakte" integrates iTunes the person close to large sound recording studios heard.

The general director of National federation of the musical industry (NFMI, represents interests of the sound recording companies Sony Music, Universal Music, Warner Music, etc.) Leonid Agronov specifies that permission of owners is required on distribution of music on any model – whether it be downloading for money on the iTunes models or a striming. "While it is not present, any distribution is piracy", – it continues.

But the free striming of music which in "VKontakte" is downloaded by users, in a social network remains. Now representatives of a social network conduct negotiations with owners on how this content will be monetized, the person, close to "VKontakte", speaks. According to him, the company manages to find a common language with the Russian owners, than with the western quicker. Agronov did not begin to make comments on negotiations with "VKontakte", having reported only that "NFMI will continue to achieve that any execution of music in "VKontakte", "Schoolmates" and other resources was carried out only in coordination with authors, musicians and owners".

Universal Music supports any movement towards legalization of content if it does not lead to sharp outflow of audience, the general director of the company in Russia Dmitry Konnov speaks. He considers, however, that placement of references near free strimingovy content hardly will lead to serious sales of music.

At the beginning of April the musical industry initiated judicial proceedings against "VKontakte": Sony Music Russia, Universal Music Russia and Warner Music UK demand from the company of 1,4 mln. dollars for violation of copyright of nine performers.

Meanwhile the appendix of "VKontakte" is inaccessible more than two weeks to iPhone in AppStore shop, and the other day the appendix of a social network for iPad also was removed from shop. According to Lobushkin, it occurred because Apple found "adult content" in a social network, and now the company "does everything possible to return appendices to AppStore".

Could affect a position of Apple and complaints of owners to piracy, the source in the musical industry speaks. According to him, majors now conduct aggressive campaign against "VKontakte" and "Schoolmates" (both are controlled by Mail.ru Group) – social networks which allow users to place content freely. Shortly before May holidays, the interlocutor of "Sheets" speaks, majors sent to Apple the next complaints to these companies. Sent a similar request of the company and to Google, he claims. The representative of Google Svetlana Anurova does not make comments on it, noting only that Google have a standard procedure of removal of appendices on the basis of complaints about various violations.

The appendix of "Schoolmates" too last week disappeared from AppStore. Three sources in the Internet companies and musical majors say that Apple blocked "Schoolmates" not because of adult content, as "VKontakte", and because of existence in the appendix of piracy music – possibility of its downloading and pumping.

The representative of "Schoolmates" says that in the appendix there is no opportunity to load music into a social network or to download it to themselves on the device is is caused by closeness of a mobile operating system of Apple. In the appendix, according to him, it is possible to listen to music only: "To make it is even more available to our users, we actively conduct negotiations with musical owners, constantly filling up our catalog". According to the representative of "Schoolmates", the reason of removal of the indistinct appendix and now the company specified by Apple tries to find out details.

Earlier the representative of "Schoolmates" told "Sheets" that the social network is going to start legal musical service and even already signed agreements with owners. The contract is not signed yet, but negotiations go, tell sources in several sound recording companies. Because of these negotiations "Schoolmates" this year were not included in so-called "list 301" – the list of the piracy sites made by the trade mission of the USA. Whereas remained "VKontakte" in this list. The executive director of "VKontakte" Dmitry Sergeyev said earlier that the company "works on an exception of "list 301".

"VKontakte" tries to return the appendix to AppStore, actively moderating "adult content", the developer of the company Andrey Rogozov reported on May 16. But it, according to him, task nontrivial: daily users of "VKontakte" load more than 80 million photos and 600 000 videos. However, half a year ago measures which undertook "VKontakte" suited Apple, Rogozov notices.



Anastasia Golitsyna
Sheets online
 No. of 18.05.14