The Internet Radio Fairness Coalition has formed to push Congress...
The Internet Radio Fairness Coalition has formed to push Congress to change the royalties online radio companies pay. Members include the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), CEA, Digital Media Association, Clear Channel, Salem Communications, Small Webcaster Alliance and Pandora.…
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The group will support the Internet Radio Fairness Act, it said. “The government is being directed [by the Copyright Act] to protect incumbents and discourage new market entrants,” said Ed Black, CCIA president. “It’s time to change the law and to encourage innovation -- not discourage competition.” Getting any telecom or intellectual property bill through Congress is a challenge, but this one has a better chance than most, said Michael Petricone, CEA senior vice president-government relations. “I think everyone understands that having a vibrant Internet radio sector is a good thing for the technology sector, for the artists and for the economy,” he said. “I'm hoping even the record labels will come to see that if you fix the royalty system and it results in growing the pie, then everyone makes more money.” A spokeswoman for the RIAA didn’t immediately respond to our query.