Copyright & Media Update 10/27/17
October 27, 2017
Breaking: Florida Supreme Court Rules That Oldies Recordings are Public Domain
BY PAUL RESNIKOFF: So this complicates things a bit. A bombshell decision from the Florida Supreme Court effectively says that recording copyrights didn’t exist before 1972. Should oldie recordings enjoy copyright protection? Absolutely not, according to a unanimous decision by the Florida Supreme Court. Effectively, anything recorded before the year 1972 is in the public domain and can be used freely. At least in the state of Florida. READ MORE…
Independent Music Labels Capture Growing 38.4% Market Share Thanks To Streaming
BY BRUCE HOUGHTON: [UPDATED] A new study commissioned by the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN) looks at the global market share of independent music labels based on copyright, rather than distribution, and reveals a very healthy indie sector on the rise. READ MORE…
Land Ahoy! Does Blackbeard Signal the End of State Immunity for Copyright Infringement?
BY JOHANNES MUNTER: Although the age of actual pirates is long gone, a case involving Blackbeard highlights copyright infringement by states, acting with apparent impunity, and the harmful impact it can have on the creative community. READ MORE…
Music Publishers Want to Create a Comprehensive Song Database — 15 Years Too Late
BY PAUL RESNIKOFF: Last week, the largest music publishers in the world disclosed plans to create a centralized song database. Seriously? It’s getting harder and harder to feel sorry for music publishers. In July, we wrote about an extremely suspect deal that major music publishers arranged with Spotify, back when streaming was still taking off. The deal involved the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) and its then-owned Harry Fox Agency, which oversees mechanical publishing licenses. READ MORE…
BY ED CHRISTMAN: A proposed fix: a blanket mechanical licensing for the U.S. The National Music Publishers Assn., the Digital Media Assn. and various songwriter and record label groups are negotiating legislation that they hope will solve the mechanical licensing problems that have plagued digital music services, while hopefully achieving higher rates for music publishers and songwriters. READ MORE…
About Christian Copyright Solutions: CCS’s quest is to help churches and Christian ministries “do music right.” CCS is an expert on church music copyrights and our primary focus is providing licensing and clear educational resources to churches, as well as representation, administration, and advocacy for copyright owners. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice or a substitute for legal counsel.
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