Webcaster group sues over constitutionality of Copyright Royalty Determinations

Live365 files Federal Lawsuit over constitutionality of U.S.Copyright Royalty Board: Article on FMQB site
I am proud to be one of thousands of Webcasters at Live365.com. I support Live365's brave stand, when it would have been simpler to keep paying millions of dollars to a questionable system that has never been properly audited. The suit does Not question the idea of Copyright (also known as Performance) Royalties, only the make up of the Board and the procedures followed in determining the amount of Royalties.
It will get interesting...
Love and Peace, Clarence Jones, Owner/Operator OlioRadio
Webcaster with Live365.com since Feb.2002

Webcaster Settlement Act of 2009 Passes

The Webcaster Settlement Act of 2009 has been passed by both the U.S.House & U.S.Senate, & is now awaiting Pres. Obama's signature. (link:Webcaster Settlement Act passes
When it is signed into law, there will be an additional 30 days for any webcaster groups who have Not reached agreement with Sound Exchange for a royalty structure (through either 2010, or it can be extended as far as 2015) for the Copyright (or Performance) Royalties. The groups with no specific agreements include: interactive streamers (Pandora), pure Webcasters (no over-the-air component), aggregaters (Live365, representing the vast majority of it's customers, who have Personal Webcaster packages.), religious broadcasters (those not privy to the agreement between SX & NAB), and others.
Lord, I don't ask for a lot, but PLEASE get us an agreement that gives Live365 (the service used for the past 7+ years by OlioRadio & thousands of other Webcasters) a fighting chance not only to survive but to grow. Without a specific agreement, we're trapped under the CRB decision of 2007, for ridiculously high rates through 2010, and the process has begun for those same fine folks to stick it to us for the period 2011-2015...opps, I mean for the CRB to come up with a fair and equitable decision for the 2011-2015 time period.

No matter your Religion (or lack of it), let us pray...
Love and Peace, Clarence
Owner-Operator of OlioRadio

Our Last Chance to save Internet Radio!

Today, Reps. Don Manzullo (R-IL) and Jay Inslee (D-WA) introduced the Internet Radio Equality Act. This bill would roll back the copyright royalty rates instituted last month that would close down most, if not all, U.S. internet radio stations by May 15th. The Act sets a copyright royalty rate of 7.5% of gross revenues (roughly equal to the rate for satelite radio) from Jan. 1, 2006 through Dec. 31, 2010.

Go to savenetradio.org for quick links to call, write, or email your Representative & ask them to co-sponsor the bill. It needs 270 sponsors to avoid the standard hearings process, which could take months: This has to be passed by the House & the Senate before May 15th (when back royalties are due under the CRB decision), or there'll be No Internet Radio in the United States to save. Go ahead & contact your state's two Senators also. Let them know that this bill is supported by a huge number of people & they'd better jump on the train as it comes through!

That's savenetradio.org.

Love & Peace, Clarence Jones
OlioRadio

Tags: Internet Radio Equality Act, OlioRadio, Congress, internet radio, CRB, copyright royalty, savenetradio.org