European rightsholders are losing out on public performance royalties in the United States (US) due to an ‘unlawful’ copyright exception, a new study has claimed.
The research by independent consulting agency PMP Conseil and funded by GESAC was presented at the International Council of Creators of Music.
According to the study, up to $44m (£35.2m) per year is lost to rightsholders in European because of the exemption surrounding the playing of music in bars, restaurants and retail establishments via radio or TV.
The US is one of only two economically developed countries to have such an exemption in place.
The study stated that the exemption is in breach of the TRIPS agreements and was ruled unlawful by the World Trade Organisation in 2000.
Yearly losses incurred by the exemption are estimated at well over $150m for US and European Union (EU) rightsholders.
Véronique Desbrosses, GESAC general manager, said: ‘The EU and the US are currently holding talks, although fragile, over trade agreements where the harm caused by this exemption needs to be raised and addressed. We expect this study to have a significant effect on the weight of the issue.’
Keith Donald, IMRO author and chairman, added: ‘We thank GESAC for undertaking this study and now call on the European Commission to take the necessary actions to put an end to this long-lasting harmful situation.’
A delegation of authors is set to meet the European Commission to present the findings of this new study, and to urge the EU to pressure the US into aligning its Copyright Act with the international treaties it has signed.
Read the full study here.
Meanwhile, UK Music has reacted to the victory of Donald Trump in the US presidential race stating that this will ‘undoubtedly bring with it visa implications’ for British bands.
The research by independent consulting agency PMP Conseil and funded by GESAC was presented at the International Council of Creators of Music.
According to the study, up to $44m (£35.2m) per year is lost to rightsholders in European because of the exemption surrounding the playing of music in bars, restaurants and retail establishments via radio or TV.
The US is one of only two economically developed countries to have such an exemption in place.
The study stated that the exemption is in breach of the TRIPS agreements and was ruled unlawful by the World Trade Organisation in 2000.
Yearly losses incurred by the exemption are estimated at well over $150m for US and European Union (EU) rightsholders.
Véronique Desbrosses, GESAC general manager, said: ‘The EU and the US are currently holding talks, although fragile, over trade agreements where the harm caused by this exemption needs to be raised and addressed. We expect this study to have a significant effect on the weight of the issue.’
Keith Donald, IMRO author and chairman, added: ‘We thank GESAC for undertaking this study and now call on the European Commission to take the necessary actions to put an end to this long-lasting harmful situation.’
A delegation of authors is set to meet the European Commission to present the findings of this new study, and to urge the EU to pressure the US into aligning its Copyright Act with the international treaties it has signed.
Read the full study here.
Meanwhile, UK Music has reacted to the victory of Donald Trump in the US presidential race stating that this will ‘undoubtedly bring with it visa implications’ for British bands.
