Results tagged “music” from Birmingham Mail - Technobabble

Music videos are to return for YouTube viewers in Britain after the website struck a royalties deal to end a six-month dispute.

YouTube blocked thousands of videos to UK users in March after its parent Google failed to agree a fee with songwriters' association PRS for Music.

But the video-sharing website has agreed to pay an undisclosed lump sum to PRS in a deal will last until 2012. It is reportedly worth tens of millions of pounds.

YouTube is expected to take around a week to reinstate the thousands of deleted music videos back on the site.

Internet users who illegally download music and films will be encouraged to change their ways before they face legal action.

The Digital Britain white paper makes a distinction between otherwise law-abiding citizens and the "hard-core" who "wilfully continue unlawful activity".

This means the authorities will not be devoting their energies to teenagers who use file-sharing websites to download a couple of their favourite songs from their bedrooms.

News through today via PA looks like the Youtube music video ban might be resolved soon.

Also interesting as Oldham Athletic Football Club has entered the fray...:

Google today said it was hoping to resolve a licensing dispute which has prompted it to block the viewing of professional music videos on YouTube.

The internet giant announced last night that it had started a process to block videos although music fans could still watch videos by Lady GaGa, Britney Spears, Take That and U2 on YouTube today.

Google took the action after its negotiations for a new licence to show music videos faltered.

PRS for Music which issues licences and collects royalties on behalf of copyright holders, said Google wanted to pay "significantly less than at present to the writers of the music".
Google said the deal it had been offered would result in it losing money every time a video was played.

Music fans are today no longer be able to watch their favourite videos on YouTube after Google blocked viewings during a dispute over licensing.

Google started to block UK viewers from watching "premium music videos" from last night (Mon) but said it will take several days until all professional music videos are covered by the restriction.

The internet giant described it as a "painful decision" which it knew would cause "significant disappointment".

PRS for Music licenses Google to make music videos available to UK users on YouTube but the firms are currently negotiating a new licensing deal.

PRS for Music said it was shocked by Google's "drastic action" which it said would "punish" music lovers and songwriters.

The collection society which issues licences and collects royalties on behalf of copyright holders, said Google wants to pay "significantly less than at present to the writers of the music" while Google said the deal it had been offered would result in it losing money every time a video was played.