With the May 15th deadline approaching, the RIAA/Soundexchange is salivating the prospect of dominance over internet radio stations. However, there is hope. Today, Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) has introduced the Internet Radio Equality Act, which will overturn the new set of rates that could bankrupt most internet radio sites.
Internet Radio Equality Act would overturn decision on webcasting fees
By Nate Anderson | Published: April 27, 2007 - 01:00PM CT
Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) has waded right into the debate over Internet broadcasting, introducing a bill that would overturn the recent ruling requiring webcasters to pay a flat rate per song streamed, rather than the traditional percentage of their profits.
The Copyright Royalty Board recently raised rates on Internet webcasters, who will soon face greatly-increased fees for streaming music on their stations. The issue affected not just Internet broadcasters but noncommercial groups like NPR, and the broadcasters filed an appeal of the decision earlier this month, but were denied.
Inslee's bill, the Internet Radio Equality Act, would toss out the Board's decision and return the webcasting industry to a percentage of profits model. In this case, the percentage would be set at the same rate paid by satellite radio, which is 7.5 percent of revenue.
The bill is a huge victory for groups like the SaveNetRadio coalition. Jake Ward of SaveNetRadio called the new bill a "critical step to preserve this vibrant and growing medium, and to develop a truly level playing field where webcasters can compete with satellite radio."
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In other news, the RIAA also believes that DRM is pro-consumer Bainwol then added that the RIAA has filed a motion to trademark to the term "Orwellian."
...It also looks like collective licensing has a news supporter in the form of Barenaked Ladies guitarist Steven Page. However, Page argues that the license should be compulsory, and while I support such a move, I believe that this can be done voluntarily, especially considering how the RIAA and its international counterpart, the IFPI, have expressed interest as recently as this past January. However, compulsory might be a better method, as DRM could be forced out of the process.