The U.S. Copyright Office has ruled that when radio stations rebroadcast
programming online, they are responsible for the same royalty fees as online-only
radio stations. The Internet-only stations had wanted the Copyright office to rule in
this manner, as they felt it unfair that brick and mortar radio stations only had to pay
the performance rights fees for on air radio broadcasts, but were exempt when
rebroadcasting over the ‘net. The online radio stations feel this sufficiently levels the
playing field and the Recording Industry of America (RIAA) is quite pleased
with the outcome (why wouldn’t they be, it’s just more $$$ in their pockets) but not
everyone is happy with this verdict.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) released a statement,
through their president, Edward O. Fritts saying that the NAB finds this ruling
conflicts with current federal statute and goes against the Copyright Act of 1995. The
NAB feels it pays enough in royalties and shouldn’t be double billed, as it
were.
Hillary Rosen, President of the RIAA and Napster’s Enemy #1,
naturally sees otherwise. “(The U.S. Copyright Office) reached the right conclusion
as a matter of law and sensible policy.”
One thinks this whole matter could take much longer to resolve than any Florida
election…
Source: Sonicnet
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