Royalty Logic Files Opposition to RIAA/Webcaster Music Royalty Proposal

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 15, 2003 - 2:05am.

Washington -- An independent royalty collection body has filed an objection to the recent joint proposal on Web music royalties filed by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the Digital Media Association, a group representing large webcasters. Royalty Logic, currently the only independent alternative to the recording industry's SoundExchange authorized to collect royalties from webcasters to be paid to artists and record labels, filed the opposition with the U.S. Copyright Office. In its filing, Burbank, Calif.-based Royalty Logic argues that the proposal submitted by record labels and the big webcasters would eliminate competition in royalty collection, because artists and copyright owners would not be able to choose a royalty collection agent such as itself that does not first deduct litigation costs and other administrative fees charged by SoundExchange before delivering royalty payments. Royalty Logic says it should be allowed to offer its customers "lower administration costs, more flexible terms, more frequent payments, greater transparency in operation and better access to information." If the U.S. Copyright Office accepts Royalty Logic's position, or for some other reason rejects the RIAA/DiMA Web royalties proposal, another oft-criticized (CARP) Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel proceeding will be held.
http://www.gnutellanews.com/article/6407
http://www.royaltylogic.com
http://www.soundexchange.com/Joint_Notification.cfm
http://www.copyright.gov/carp