Volume IX

Issue : 3: October 7, 2010

• Smartphone Patent Litigation Heats Up as Microsoft Sues Motorola
• U.S. Government seeks Legislation to 'Wiretap' the Internet
• U.S. Law Proposed to Target Infringing Websites Everywhere
• Waxman's Net-Neutrality Draft Legislation Leaked
• USD873M Judgment Against Facebook Spammer Upheld by Quebec Court
• YouTube Agrees to Pay French Music Royalties

Home > Volume IX > Issue 3: October 7, 2010 > YouTube Agrees to Pay French Music Royalties

YouTube Agrees to Pay French Music Royalties

YouTube has agreed to terms with the French society for authors, composers and music publishers (known as SACEM), a trade body that collects music royalties, for the payment by YouTube of royalties for songs viewed in France on YouTube's video sharing website.  The deal, which took three years to settle, applies retroactively to 2007 and continues for a period of five years.  Although a 2000 EU Directive provides that YouTube would not be liable for the music that is posted by others (provided that the music was removed by YouTube once notice of infringement was received), YouTube appears more than willing to pay what is anticipated to be a relatively modest amount in order to avoid lawsuits and maximize available content.

While YouTube has managed to sign deals with many music trade bodies in Europe, including the U.K., Italy, Spain and now France, it continues to experience difficulties in other European countries, such as Germany, where discussions have recently broken down completely. 

For additional information, visit:
http://tinyurl.com/2vdtlhw