The exploitation of compositions in the Internet

29 June 2004 - La Vanguardia - Togas XXXXI

Due to its international implications, the exploitation of musical works on the Internet involves a series of difficulties for operators when obtaining licences and author authorisations. Recently, the drafting of the Barcelona and Santiago Agreements have promised important facilities for obtaining licences by the management entities establishing a one-stop shop mechanism. However, given the differences between the copyright and droit d’auteur systems, above all in the context of music publishing systems, these Agreements do not go far enough to resolve intercontinental problems. With this objective, a Memorandum of Understanding is being promoted amongst the Major Companies in musical production and management entities. The article covers the fundamental points of the problem in reference to the ring tones of mobile telephones.