All about copyright, understanding music licensing, and government regulations.
Tidal has been boasting that it had access to stream music from the late and great Prince, but the performer’s estate is raising an eyebrow about those claims. The estate says that Tidal was only permitted to stream Prince’s most recent albums rather than the entire catalog. Continue Reading
Consent decrees are back in the headlines. This time, it’s because the Department of Justice is appealing the decision by federal Judge Louis Stanton about fractional licensing. The DoJ response means that the second circuit court of appeals will hear the case. Continue Reading
A new study investigated how an exemption in the U.S. Copyright Act impacts songwriters and composers in Europe. The law in question allows certain small restaurants and retail businesses from getting licenses for music played on the television or radio in their establishments. Continue Reading
The U.S. music industry is petitioning its European counterparts to make copyright reforms that would address royalty payments made by online music distribution services. Several music industry organizations signed an open letter about the value gap in services that do a great deal of user traffic but make comparatively small royalty payments. It asks U.S. government representatives in Europe to support Article 13 of the Copyright Directive proposed by the European Commission. Continue Reading
SoundCloud has signed a licensing deal with pan-European rights hub ICE (the International Copyright Enterprise). This multi-territory arrangement will allow rightsholders across the continent to receive royalties from the audio company’s services, including the SoundCloud Go subscription tier. Continue Reading
YouTube has entered a licensing deal with German collection society GEMA. The two parties had been at an impasse since 2009, meaning that German viewers would often have music videos containing GEMA repertoire blocked. Details of the arrangement have not been disclosed, but they seem to have taken immediate effect. Continue Reading
At RAIN Summit Nashville in September, broadcast law attorney David Oxenford delivered a fast-moving, wide-ranging presentation of webcasting legal issues that are currently important. Click through for full video, and don’t blink! Continue Reading
The legal definition of a stream is currently under a microscope in a lawsuit filed by 19 Recordings. The plaintiff, which represents the winners of reality TV competition American Idol, alleged that its clients have been shortchanged on revenue because of how Sony defines a stream in contracts. Continue Reading
The three major labels have filed a lawsuit against an operation that they claim is a top offender in stream ripping. German company YouTube-mp3.org is charged with piracy by engaging in an increasingly common form of music copying, where music videos are reduced to audio-only MP3 files for personal consumption and sharing. Continue Reading
BMI’s rate court has issued a ruling in favor of the performing rights organization in assessing the Department of Justice’s recent consent decree review. U.S. District Judge Louis Stanton of New York has rejected the 100% licensing provision recently handed down by the DoJ. Continue Reading
Songwriters are suing the Department of Justice over its consent decree decision. Specifically, they are targeting the new “100 percent licensing” rule, which allows a single songwriter to license compositions written by a team in some circumstances. Continue Reading
Pandora made a splash this morning in an announcement of new label agreements that will underpin a new on-demand music service that the company has been promising since acquiring Rdio assets last November. CEO Tim Westergren held an investor call… Continue Reading