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ARIA Sells a Licence for DJs to Format Shift Music

Posted by samzenpus on from the next-up-a-whistling-tax dept.

lucas writes "The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has set up a new licence to let DJs format shift their music to use at gigs. DJs will need to pay a licence fee to copy music they already own legally from one format to another for ease of use, and as a back-up in case originals get lost or stolen. Criminal penalties for DJs involved in "music piracy" are up to sixty thousand dollars and 5 years imprisonment. There are also on-the-spot fines of over one thousand dollars."

4 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. 2006 copyright law changes by Michael+Wardle · · Score: 5, Informative

    In 2006, the government passed a law making format shift legal. In particular, it would be legal to copy from a CD to an iPod.

    It turns out this is only for "private, domestic use", which wouldn't apply to DJs on commercial premises.
    Format shifting fact sheet

  2. Re:No "fair use" in Australia by sahonen · · Score: 4, Informative

    What's wrong with my logic? I'm starting to suspect a troll here but I'll keep going just in case...

    A DJ, as part of spinning songs for a crowd, is already paying royalties to ARIA for the right to play those songs in public. I want you to explain to me exactly why he should be required to pay additional royalties on top of what he is already paying for the right to play those songs out of a laptop or off a compilation CD instead of the original CD.

    Bear in mind that copyright does not make it illegal to copy *any* music. It only makes it illegal to copy to music that you do not have a license to copy. DJs have that license because they pay royalties.

    --
    Make me a friend and I'll mod you up
  3. Performance fees are also going up by Zouden · · Score: 4, Informative

    Performance fees for dance music in Australian nightclubs are changing from $0.07/patron to $1.05/patron, a 1500% increase!

    --
    "A week in the lab saves an hour in the library"
  4. Is this not already enforced in the UK? by ma0sm · · Score: 3, Informative

    Or something similar, at least:
    http://www.djlicence.org.uk/faq.html

    "I only use original CDs in my performance, do I need these licences?
     No, these licences are for copying or dubbing music tracks to pc or mp3 player.
    These licences also DO NOT allow you to copy from CD to CD-R.
    To understand more about which licences apply where download the NADJ Licensing Grid."