All about copyright, understanding music licensing, and government regulations.
Spotify is reportedly engaged in a juggling act over its licensing deals with the major labels. According to The Wall Street Journal, the streaming service is running off short-term extensions of its agreements with all three of the major labels. As Spotify continues to move toward a potential IPO, getting all its ducks in a row for these complex legal questions is a must. Continue Reading
Pennsylvania may be the latest state to levy a tax against streaming and download services. The state is expected to enact a 6% tax on Spotify and other comparable services beginning Aug. 1. Continue Reading
The National Music Publishers Association and the Nashville Songwriters Association International have submitted their proposal for the rates publishers will receive from interactive music services in the 2018-2022 period. The groups’ submission to the Copyright Royalty Board includes a three-part formula for digital licensing rates. Continue Reading
The Electronic Frontier Foundation may return to court for its case against Personal Audio over podcasting patents. Personal Audio has since filed an appeal of the decision, and the EFF is trying to confirm its ability to participate in that appeal. Continue Reading
It’s official. The Department of Justice has released the final ruling for its review of performing rights organization consent decrees, which includes “full-works licensing” and prohibits withdrawal of digital rights from bundled licenses. Both ASCAP and BMI are already mounting their responses. Continue Reading
SESAC and Swiss collecting society SUISA have collaborated on a new joint venture in licensing and rights administration for digital music services. Mint Digital Licensing is a multi-territory platform that will issue single source licenses for the reproduction, distribution, and performance rights for the combined groups’ catalogs. Continue Reading
The National Music Publishers Association and the Nashville Songwriters Association International have moved to block Sony Music Entertainment from participating in the new round of Copyright Royalty Board proceedings. After setting webcasting rates for the 2016-2020 period, the CRB will next consider mechanical royalties that will apply to interactive music services for 2018-2022. Continue Reading
One of the recent developments in pre-1972 copyright protection was a win by video hosting service Vimeo in June, where the court ruled that the company could apply safe harbor provisions to those songs. That appeal ruling is now facing a fresh attack. A2IM, the RIAA, and Concord have filed an amicus brief in support of original plaintiff Capitol Records and requesting that the full New York federal appellate court rehear the case. Continue Reading
The National Music Publishers’ Association said that a large number of its members have signed on to participate in the $30 million settlement with Spotify over publishing royalties. “The vast majority of our members have opted into our settlement,” President and CEO David Israelite said of the arrangement. Continue Reading
Belize-based Global Interactive Media has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Sirius XM. The action was filed in a U.S. District Court in Illinois. It is the latest in a long string of lawsuits over how music information is displayed online. Continue Reading
The U.S. Department of Justice has completed its much anticipated two-year review of consent decrees — decades-old laws which govern how ASCAP and BMI are permitted to license music on behalf of songwriters, composers, and publishers. The bottom line: No change, and a blow to the two major performing rights organizations (PROs) which have lobbied for more flexible control of rights management, especially in the streaming era. Continue Reading
Spotify and iHeartMedia have been sued on allegations that they are infringing on a patent for sharing and retrieving playlist information online. Post Media Systems is the plaintiff, representing Alan Bartholomew of SoniClear. The central patent is titled “System and Method for Creating and Posting Media Lists for Purposes of Subsequent Playback.” Continue Reading