Senate Committee Holds Webcasting Hearing

jonathanjo writes "Yesterday (5/15/02) the US Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing titled: "Copyright Royalties: Where is the Right Spot On The Dial For Webcasting." This was a review of the work of CARP, the Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel, the group formed by the DMCA that has closed down webstreaming for many independent radio stations with new high fees and exhaustive reporting requirements. Representatives from RIAA, Digital Media Association, Arbitron, Real Networks, and Yahoo gave testimony, as well as people representing two independent Vermont webcasters, and the American Federation Of Television and Radio Artists. Senator Patrick Leahy's (D-VT) testimony was surprisingly sympathetic to small webcasters (especially by inviting two from his state to speak). Orrin Hatch gave the expected pro-DMCA boilerplate."

Comments

Tides of changes

[BobSutan]

Perhaps its time for a new industry association to pick up the reigns the RIAA dropped? How about a new entity that's tech friendly who could sign new artists (its not impossible)? I'm sure most musicians wouldn't mind having new revenue streams to tap, its just more money in their pockets. All I'm saying is I wouldn't mind seeing someone defending the artists that had a clue and wasn't refusing to face the tides of change. By properly paying the artists the money they are due, and selling CDs at a decent price, online distribution could more than easily make up the slack of the lower prices/reduced profits that the RIAA has in place now. Online distribution/radio HAS to be cheaper than retail channels. Common sense says so. All that would really be needed is to sign the new acts the RIAA would like and slowly convert the currently popular ones. Who in their right mind would stay with the RIAA backed companies if they can see the greener side of the fence? (pun intended)