Court of Appeals Sides With Songwriters, Publishers on Licensing

As the music industry headed into the holiday season, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals gave songwriters and music publishers a gift with its decision that the consent decree allows fractionalized licensing. Fractionalized licensing means that in c… View More

State Department Pays WIPO Dues

The Copyright Alliance reported that last week, they were notified that after completing its review of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) activities, the Department of State paid 85% of its WIPO dues, enabling the United States to remain an ac… View More

Copyright Small Claims

On October 4, Representatives Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Tom Marino (R-PA), as well as Representatives Doug Collins (R-GA), Lamar Smith (R-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), and Ted Lieu (D-CA) introduced the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act… View More

Copyright Alliance Issues Statement on Small Claims Legislation

 Copyright Alliance Issues Statement on Small Claims Legislation Introduced by Reps. Jeffries and Marino   Washington, DC – On October 4th, in response to the introduction of the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act of … View More

Supreme Court of Canada Upholds BC Decision Against Google

  Supreme Court of Canada Upholds BC Decision to Grant Worldwide De-Indexing Order Against Google By: Casey Chisick    On June 28, 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada, in Google v Equustek Inc, 2017 SCC 34, affirmed a deci… View More

The House passes H.R. 1695, Register of Copyrights Selection & A

On April 26, 2017, the House of Representatives passed the Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act by a decisive, bipartisan vote of 378-48. The vote was met by statements of support from Representatives, creative communities, civil rights … View More

House Judiciary Committee Passes Register Appointment Bill

The Copyright Alliance reported that on March 29, the House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 1695, the Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act, as amended, to the House floor by a vote of 27-1. The vote was fairly evenly split with 15 Republ… View More

NMPA & NSAI Present Case to CRB

The NMPA and NSAI will begin presenting their case to the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) on March 8th to determine the new mechanical royalty rates for interactive streaming services under section 115 of the US Copyright Law. The DSP interests, represented … View More

Stay Informed About The Copyright Royalty Board & Sony

Music publishers and songwriters are currently in the middle of the Section 115 rate proceeding to set royalties for our mechanical rights to become effective January 1, 2018.  Universal Music Group (UMG) and Warner Bros. (WB) on the major label side … View More

Statement From The AIMP, A2IM & CMPA Regarding The DoJ Position

    We, the undersigned, represent the independent music publishing and record label community in North America, and want to lend our unified voice to the recent press and discussion regarding the outrageous position the Department of Justice (… View More

America's Songwriters Deserve Better Than This: Op-Ed

The Department of Justice (DoJ) has dealt a massive blow to America's songwriters. After a two year review of the consent decrees that govern ASCAP and BMI, career lawyers who were never elected nor confirmed to their positions, led by a lawyer who previou… View More

The CA report on "The Making Available Right in the US"

  The Copyright Office has just released is report on "The Making Available Right in the United States.”  A copy of the report can be found here.  The report is the result of the Copyright Office's multi-year study to review and … View More

AIMP Signs On To A2IM Webcasting IV Brief

Currently in Washington, DC there are rate deliberations going on in the Section 114 webcasting rate proceeding.  The record companies of Sony and Universal have filed briefs suggesting that they should receive a higher rate than other record companie… View More

Copyright Alliance Update On The CODE Act

House Judiciary Committee members Reps. Judy Chu (D-CA) and Tom Marino (R-PA) have been working to draft legislation, the Copyright Office for the Digital Economy (CODE) Act, to modernize the Copyright Office.  Key provisions of a discussion draft … View More

The Copyright Office Orphan Works & Mass Digitization report

On June 4th, the Copyright Office released a report on Orphan Works and Mass Digitization, available here.  The report recommends legislation limiting liability for the use of orphan works following a good faith diligent search for the copyright … View More

3/10/15 DOJ Hearing on ASCAP/BMI Consent Decrees

On the morning of March 10, 2015, the Department Of Justice (DOJ) held a hearing on the ASCAP and BMI Consent decrees.  The witnesses included Mike Dowdle (for NAB and Bonneville International), Jodie Griffin (for Public Knowledge), Chris Harrison (Pa… View More

Copyright Office Report On Music Licensing Released

On February 5, 2015, the Copyright Office released their 245 page report on their analysis and recommendations for how the U.S. Copyright law could be amended to reflect the current market reality and conditions in the music business.  Though any actu… View More

AIMP Submits Letter To DOJ Regarding Consent Decrees

You can read the full submission here.   View More

Dept of Commerce Internet Policy Task Force Roundtables

    This week, the Department of Commerce Internet Policy Task Force held the last two roundtables on Copyright Policy, Creativity and Innovation in the Digital Economy in Los Angeles and Berkeley, California. On each day, there were three pane… View More

Sandra Aistars' Statement on recent Aereo Supreme Court Decision

Here is a link to the 6-3 Supreme Court decision reversing the Second Circuit in Aereo. Congratulations to the petitioners. Here is a statement we are issuing in response. Best Regards, Sandra Aistars Chief Executive Officer Copyright Alliance … View More

Statement From Copyright Alliance

January 10, 2014   STATEMENT FROM: COPYRIGHT ALLIANCE CEO SANDRA AISTARS RE: US SUPREME COURT GRANT OF REVIEW OF THE AEREO CASE   WASHINGTON, D.C. – On behalf of the millions of artists, creators and innovators represented by o… View More

Copyright Alliance Supports Broadcasters' Cert Petition in Aereo

On November 12, 2013, the Copyright Alliance filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in support of the broadcaster’s petition for certiorari in ABC v. Aereo. The case arises out of a flawed US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruling earli… View More

AIMP Letter In Support Of Legislation Against Rogue Websites

Rogue websites pose as legitimate businesses, but in reality they are distributing counterfeit and pirated products. The AIMP joined the Chamber of Commerce and others by signing this letter to convince members of congress that they must protect IP industr… View More

Legislation

LETTER TO ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER Read the letter from twenty-four Members of Congress urging the creation of an IP Task Force to fight against intellectual property crimes. View More

Grassroots Letter to the President

The AIMP is supporting the Copyright Alliance’s latest efforts in sending a grassroots letter to President Obama.  Please take the time to sign the electronic letter here, www.copyrightalliance.org/letter,  to remind Washington of the impor… View More

June 17, 2009: Amicus brief filed

“In ASCAP v. RealNetworks, Inc., Yahoo!, Inc. AIMP has joined the NMPA, MPA, CMPA, and PMA and other music organizations as amicus parties asking the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to clarify that a musical work public performa… View More

AIMP Sends Legislative Letter to Congress

The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) has partnered with The National Music Publishers Association (NMPA), ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, Harry Fox Agency, Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), Church Music Publishers Association, Mu… View More

Jan 6, 2009: AIMP comments on section 115 interim regulation

The AIMP, alongside the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA), The Harry Fox Agency (HFA), the Songwriters' Guild of America (SGA) and the Nashville Songwriters Assocation International (NSAI), has filed comments with the Copryight Office on section… View More

Orphan Works Update, December 8, 2008

The U. S. House of Representatives will reconvene on Tuesday, December 9th, 2008 for a "Lame Duck Session;" one in which Congress sometimes meets in even numbered years after the November general election, and includes… View More

Court Determines ASCAP Rates for Yahoo, AOL, RealNetworks

Historic Decision Provides Framework for Valuing Use of Musical Works Online Also Validates Need to Appropriately Compensate Songwriters & Composers for Role Their Works Play in Success of Online Businesses   Yahoo, AOL, and RealNetworks m… View More

S.2913: Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008

To provide a limitation on judicial remedies in copyright infringement cases involving orphan works. 110th CONGRESS - 2d Session, in the Senate of the United States, April 24, 2008 Mr. LEAHY (for himself and Mr. HATCH) introduced the following bill; wh… View More

H.R.5889 - Orphan Works Act of 2008

To provide a limitation on judicial remedies in copyright infringement cases involving orphan works. 110th CONGRESS - 2d Session in the House of Representatives, April 24, 2008 Mr. BERMAN (for himself, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. CONYERS, and Mr. COBLE) i… View More

Publishers Cry Foul Against MediaNet: Lawsuit Flies

A number of publishers are now launching a legal attack against MediaNet Digital, owner of the MusicNet white label service.  On Wednesday, the National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA) shared news of a class action lawsuit with Digital Music News… View More

Copyright Royalty Board Proceedings - Feb, 2008

From: Cathy Merenda Dated: Friday, February 15 2:29 PM The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) began hearings in Washington on January 28th to determine mechanical rates for songwriters and music publishers.   Along with setting rates for physical … View More

URGENT: RIAA Tries to Slash Rates

From: Israelite, David Dated: Friday, January 25, 2008 12:09 PM Subject: Urgent Message from NMPA Regarding Your Rights On Monday, January 28, the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) begins the hearing that will determine mechanical rates for every s… View More