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Kazaa, Verizon Propose Compulsory Music Licensing

Posted by timothy on from the no-you-pay-us dept.

akb writes "USA Today is reporting on an interesting new alliance between Kazaa, the dominant file sharing network, and Verizon, a company with revenues of $67 billion. The two companies are floating a proposal to ISPs and the computer and manufacturing industries to lobby to force the music industry to license their music. Royalties would be payed to artists directly, thus circumventing the stranglehold the RIAA has on the music industry."

1 of 450 comments (clear)

  1. Far too sane, look who is talking... by killthiskid · · Score: 5, Interesting

    My first thought: this is far to sane to actually take place. Then I read:


    Kazaa lobbyist Phil Corwin says a $1-a-month fee per user on Internet providers alone (it's unclear whether costs would be passed along to subscribers) would generate $2 billion yearly: "We're talking about a modest fee on all the parties who benefit from the availability of this content."

    Recording Industry Association of America president Hilary Rosen calls the proposal "the most disingenuous thing I've ever heard. It's ridiculous."


    Sooo, let me get this straight: it is riciculous to directly pay the artist who produce the music.


    Well, this is very telling. I sincerly hope compulsory license comes to be... it seems about the only way to tame the RIAA beast. Maybe it will even save internet radio.