Washington - A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would alter royalty rates and add copy-protection requirements to the satellite and Internet radio industries.
Sponsors of the "Perform Act" include Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Joe Biden (D-Del.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). The bill addresses record labels' concerns with the differing royalty rates set for various digital radio services, and with new satellite radios that can record and store songs.
"New radio services are allowing users to do more than simply listen to music," Feinstein said in a statement. "What was once a passive listening experience has turned into a forum where users can record, manipulate, collect and create personalized music libraries."
The bill would require providers of both satellite and Internet radio services to implement copy-protection technology on services and devices, and restrict automatic recording features.
"Under the current system, satellite radio has been allowed to morph into a digital distribution service -- shorting the creators of music, displacing licensed sales and threatening the integrity of the digital music marketplace in the process," said Mitch Bainwol, chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). "We love satellite radio. But this is simply no way to do business."
A similar bill introduced last year was opposed by digital civil liberties groups and webcasters, who said it tramples on consumers' home recording and fair use rights.
Related Links:
http://feinstein.senate.gov/07releases/r-perform0111.htm
http://tinyurl.com/y3go35 (CNET)
http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=332444
http://www.performact.com
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