[Fmpro] HR 4798

[Christopher Alpiar]

OK after checking this out a bunch of times, I think what the changes  
are doing are ending the exemption for "over air" broadcasters as the  
only ones having to pay royalty. It will force webcasters, sattellite  
radio, and cable to compensate artists for use of their sound  
recordings just as broadcast radio always has. This is being done with  
the intent of the musicians I think?? But I do not understand if this  
means that the change will come to play for ALL royalty collected for  
all parties, or just for musician performances? Its a little unclear  
still...

Christopher Kennedy Alpiar
Cinematic Composer
937.294.0900 (Dayton Studio)
310.339.9603 (Los Angeles)
877.294.0912 (Toll Free)
www.alpiar.com








On Jun 26, 2008, at 5:31 PM, Christopher Alpiar wrote:

> Also note that it says specifically
>
>> Provides that nothing in this Act shall adversely affect the public
>> performance rights or royalties payable to songwriters or copyright
>> owners of musical works.
>
> I note they don't say anything about composers. They might be
> inferring it by saying "songwriters" but this seems kind of loosely
> worded and inexact for a change to the federal copyright law.... I
> called congressman Berman's office in D.C. today and got his chief of
> staff's voicemail... doubt I will hear back but I will let you all
> know if I do :-)
>
> Christopher Kennedy Alpiar
> Cinematic Composer
> 937.294.0900 (Dayton Studio)
> 310.339.9603 (Los Angeles)
> 877.294.0912 (Toll Free)
> www.alpiar.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Jun 26, 2008, at 5:02 PM, Christopher Alpiar wrote:
>
>> 12/18/2007--Introduced.
>> Performance Rights Act - Amends federal copyright law to:
>> (1) grant performers of sound recordings equal rights to compensation
>> from terrestrial broadcasters;
>> (2) establish a flat annual fee in lieu of payment of royalties for
>> individual terrestrial broadcast stations with gross revenues of less
>> than $1.25 million and for non-commercial, public broadcast stations;
>> (3) grant an exemption from royalty payments for broadcasts of
>> religious services and for incidental uses of musical sound
>> recordings; and
>> (4) grant terrestrial broadcast stations that make limited feature
>> uses of sound recordings a per program license option.
>> Provides that nothing in this Act shall adversely affect the public
>> performance rights or royalties payable to songwriters or copyright
>> owners of musical works.
>
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