Press Release
| National Music Publishers’ Association Applauds Bill to Streamline Digital Music Licensing and Compensate Music Creators | ||
|
June 9, 2006 – The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) today commended Chairman Lamar Smith and Representative Howard Berman for introducing legislation designed to promote fair compensation to music creators and greater innovation and competition among digital music providers. The Section 115 Reform Act (SIRA), H.R. 5553, would create an easy-to-use blanket licensing system that would ultimately provide music fans with multiple ways to access a greater number of songs. “We thank Chairman Smith and Representative Berman for responding to today’s marketplace by promoting revolutionary changes to an outdated licensing system,” said David Israelite, President and CEO of NMPA. “Fast and efficient music licensing will ensure that songwriters and music publishers are fairly compensated and that creativity in the music industry thrives. Most importantly, music fans will have more ways to listen to the songs they love.” Under current law, the right to reproduce or distribute a song is compulsory – it must be granted by the copyright owner, but it is done on a song-by-song basis. SIRA would create a streamlined blanket licensing system that would allow digital music providers access to the entire catalogue of copyrighted music. The legislation was introduced yesterday. NMPA is hopeful that Congress will move quickly to enact this innovative fix to antiquated and outdated copyright law. |
||
|
