All about copyright, understanding music licensing, and government regulations.
Several streaming services drew the ire of songwriting groups when they moved to appeal the mechanical royalty rates set by the Copyright Royalty Board. Although Amazon, Google, and Pandora are also participating in the appeal, Spotify has been shouldering the bulk of the critique. Continue Reading
7digital has launched two new partnerships. First, it has made its first move into connected cars through a deal with ACCESS, a software provider for entertainment devices. The second partnership is with Dubset, the rights management tech company specializing in remixes and DJ sets. Continue Reading
European Parliament has voted in favor of the Copyright Directive, a set of reforms intended to update the bloc’s rules for a digital age, but including several controversial provisions. The directive passed by a vote of 348 votes in favor and 274 against. Continue Reading
The RIAA is filing an appeal in a court case against the Russian operator of two stream-ripping websites. Judge Claude M. Hilton of the Eastern District of Virginia determined that he lacked jurisdiction to take on the case against Tofig Kurbanov in a January ruling. Continue Reading
Spotify has filed a complaint against Apple with the European Commission, arguing that the rules and fee cuts with the App Store post a threat to business competition and limit customer choice. The complaint centers around Apple’s operation of the App Store, the sole way to find and download software for iOS mobile devices. Continue Reading
Several parties in the European creative sector have launched another push on behalf of the Copyright Directive, a contentious effort to update and overhaul the EU’s legal framework for a digital age. A group of 256 organizations and trade bodies from many disciplines signed a letter encouraging the European Parliament to adopt the proposed set of rules when it votes in early April. Continue Reading
The Copyright Royalty Board rates set for 2018 through 2022 are soon to face a legal challenge. A group of streaming and technology platforms — including Spotify, Google, Pandora, and Amazon — filed notices that they intend to appeal the mechanical statutory licensing rates for that period. Continue Reading
Dubset is quietly collecting a growing roster of labels and libraries for its platform for quickly licensing compositions to use in remixes and DJ playlists. The latest addition is Warner Music Group, which is now one of the biggest labels to ink a partnership with the company. Continue Reading
Consent decrees are back in the headlines. These rules govern how performing rights organizations ASCAP and BMI collect fees for use of their catalogs, but now the Department of Justice is reviewing the decrees and considering their end. Today, ASCAP and BMI issued an open letter with their stance on the possible reforms. Continue Reading
Spotify has been positioning itself to roll out in India for many months, but its plans have hit a big hurdle. Warner Music Group has sued the streaming service, filing an injunction against it playing music by its songwriters in India. Continue Reading
A new version of the Local Radio Freedom Act has arrived before Congress, the third effort to pass legislation about radio industry royalties. The bill calls for protections that will block “any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge” from being levied against radio stations because they “provide free publicity and promotion to the recording industry and performers.” Continue Reading
Rhapsody and Napster have settled a long-standing class-action lawsuit over mechanical licensing. The settlement, filed in the U.S. District Court of Northern California, will see the streaming services make payouts to self-published songwriters whose compositions were played on the music platform. Continue Reading