Ringtone licensing debate handed off

The RIAA's request to develop a compulsory licensing model for ringtones has been placed in the lap of the U.S. Copyright Office. The process for licensing music is a mess, particularly for new media formats like mobile. A compulsory licensing scheme would simplify things dramatically, eliminating the need to negotiate a license for each ringtone desired. Publishers generally don't like them because they can get more money out of one-off negotiations, hence the opposition to the measure by the National Music Publishers' Assn., the Songwriters Guild of America and the Nashville Songwriters Assn.

This is one of those times where the RIAA has it right. Cross your fingers and hope that compulsory licensing becomes a reality. The music licensing system for digital media is just shy of being an all-out scam. Anything that can bring some common sense and order to this ridiculousness would be a welcome move and in the long run benefit everybody, including the short-sighted publishers who oppose it.

For more details on the ringtone licensing debate:
- Read the article in Billboard (sub. req'd)
- or the reprint in the Hollywood Reporter

Related Articles:
- Sony's rev share lawsuit includes ringtones now