Orrin Hatch, Utah Republican and songwriter, told music retailers Monday that the federal government will be the driving force in deciding the future of online music distribution:
The senator encouraged members of the music industry, already actively lobbying D.C. legislators, to get even more involved in the policy making process. Hatch said he doesn't support compulsory licensing of music online; such licensing would force major labels to make their content available to competitors. However, he said that he might alter his position if industry conditions change.
Hatch's comments come as the music industry continues to struggle with the precarious balancing act of protecting copyrights while moving content online. The rise of online music distribution has posed a particular challenge for retailers, who face the unenviable task of selling CDs to a generation accustomed to file-swapping sites such as Napster and its successors.
A current hot-button issue is the role of subscription sites such as PressPlay and MusicNet, two services rolled out by the major record labels last year, which charge for access to large online music collections. Legislators are divided on the need for regulation that would govern how content is licensed out to independent distributors.
In comments following his speech, Hatch said he believes the music industry "would do a lot better if they were more open to competition." He also said he appreciated what Napster was able to accomplish in establishing its brand but wished the file-swapping site had been better able to enforce copyright protection.
Would you use sites such as PressPlay and MusicNet when you can use programs like KaZaA, etc. ?
Source: Wired.com
Source: Wired.com
