Benefits over Web cast recording license.

So, do you want to be a webcaster? It sounds funny, is it not? Actually, it is. But considerate that obtaining licensing for internet webcasting may not be an easy task, depending on what you want to do. For example, your listeners may want to record webcast programs from your webpage. Do you want them to do it? If so, consider that you it will cost you. Recording webcasts demands additional services from your webpage. You may find yourself in the necessity of investing more money than you thought initially.

If that is the case, you may look for other ways to generate some revenue to cover your expenses. Because of this many webcasters decided that it was a good idea to make use of mainstream music that was copyrighted under the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA). The idea was to attract more people to their webcasts, dedicated to the transmission of independent music with no copyright.

If you want to be within this group, then you will need a statutory license.

What Is A Statutory License?

Basically, it's a permit to make use of copyright music in your webcast without infringing the law. This was possible thanks to the Small Webcaster Settlement Act, of 2002. Under this scheme, the webcaster can use copyright music for a flat annual fee of US$500. Of course, there are some basic points that need to be complied if you want to use this license.

For example, your program should not focus to the advertising of a single service or product. That means that you can't continually emit ads related to, let's say, certain brand of computers. The intention of the webcaster should be to offer entertainment, either through independent music or educational radio programs that are focused to a determined group of people, like amateur rockets or discussions on western philosophy.

What Extra Benefits Do I Have?

Besides using a copyright music for a reduced rate, actually, there are some additional restraints: non-interactive programming, sound recording performance complement, non-prior announcements, limits on the archive of programs, limits on continuous or repetitive programming and ways to protect the author's work copied by listeners. Let's examine, in detail, each one of them:

Non-Interactive Programming

It means that the listener will not be able to choose what he wishes to listen. One current example of interactive programming is TiVo. You choose what to see in a determined hour and day. Listeners of webcasters using the Statutory License shouldn't have that option.

Sound Recording Performance Complement

While it is common to hear complete albums or artist specials in traditional radio, webcasters will not be able to do the same thing with copyrighted material. Webcasters with licensing for internet webcasting can't reproduce three consecutive songs from one artist or a boxed set, two consecutive songs from the same album, and, in a period of three hours, four or more non-consecutive songs from an artist, album or boxed set.

Continue to: Benefits in Recording Webcasts

Webcasting Software - How Does It Work?
Webcasting Technology - The Latest Trends
Webcasting Services - How To Gain The Maximum Out of It?
Webcasting - It Could Take Your Company A Long Way

Bookmark this Page Email this to your friend Add this page to del.icio.us