Monday, September 25

Warner Music's YouTube pact raises rights issues

Is it possible that the YouTube/WMG deal will never take place? Here's the real issue the music industry will fight for.

"The deal, in theory, clears all of WMG's recorded music and music video catalog for use on YouTube. In practice, that's a complicated goal. (...) Making its recorded music available in user-generated videos created by the YouTube community is a (..) thornier proposition.  WMG isn't creating a centralized database of songs for YouTube users. Rather, the label is giving its blessing to YouTube users who take WMG songs they already own and feature them in videos posted to the site. Think a wedding video with the happy couple swaying to "Time of Your Life" by WMG act Green Day.


While WMG is signing off on its master rights for recordings, two other rights -- performance and synchronization -- are triggered by YouTube usage. For the right to perform, or stream, the songs, YouTube already has obtained a license from BMI. Of the other two performing rights societies, ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) says it is "in sensitive negotiations" with YouTube, and SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers) declined comment."

(Source: Reuters)

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