Here's another update on the Copyright Royalty Board situation regarding the possible end of webcasting as we know it.
The Copyright Royalty board has announced that it is "considering" the Broadcasters' Motion for Rehearing submitted by webcasters. This does not mean -- as was mistakenly reported by a News.com blog and Radio & Records -- that the board will rehear arguments. It just meant that the board is thinking about a rehearing, that SoundExchange has until April 2nd to respond to the motion for a rehearing. Don't you love the way this stuff works? Niiiiice and slow...
The April 2nd deadline for responses indicates that the board willannounce its decision regarding a rehearing relatively soon.
Webcasters are optimistic; according
to Daniel McSwain of RAIN, "Many advocates of Internet radio see thedecision to hear motions as a 'first step' toward the resolution of problematic issues surrounding the royalty rate decision."
If the rehearing finally does occur, the boardwill have a chance to reconsider its decision, hopefully taking theconsiderable objections of webcasters (and hopefully those of consumers) into account.
