Webcasters Submit Briefs This Month

No, not that kind of briefs. Legal briefs, silly. The briefs are part of webcasters' appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to overturn the Copyright Royalty Board's monumental March 2007 mistake raising far beyond reason the copyright royalty rate on internet radio.

From The Radio And Internet Newsletter (RAIN):

According to the timeline currently in place, the briefs of the various webcasters are due on Feb. 25.

The brief of the CRB, represented by the Department of Justice, is due on April 25, and SoundExchange’s brief is due on May 15. The reply briefs are due on June 12, but oral arguments have not yet been scheduled. Such a calendar suggests that the appeal will be decided at the end of 2008, at the earliest.

Until then, the parties may continue to negotiate and reach agreement outside of court, as has already occurred. SoundExchange, representing the music industry, has shown a desire to achieve separate agreements among the parties, rather than a comprehensive settlement that covers all parties…

The royalty rate legislation that is before Congress, if enacted, may ultimately nullify the Court of Appeals’ decision and any agreements SoundExchange has entered.

Still, what is needed is a rate structure that is technology-neutral…

Read bout it in the New York Law Journal via KurtHanson.com.