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New Bill Would Make Sat-Radio Companies Pay Labels For Downloads
April 26, 2006 at 6:11 AM (PT)
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A new bill introduced on CAPITOL HILL would force satellite radio, cable, and Internet broadcasters to pay compensation to the music industry for downloads. The "Platform Equality and Remedies for Rights Holders in Music Act of 2006" ("PERFORM"), introduced by Sens. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D-CA), BILL FRIST (R-TN), and LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC), sets the compensation rate at "fair market value" and requires the company to use available technology to block music "theft."
The bill, proposed at the behest of the music industry, is a reaction to the introduction of more satellite radio receiver models that allow users to record programming for playback at a later time; SIRIUS has reached deals with the labels over its recording S-50 receiver but XM is resisting the bill as it prepares to bring its PIONEER Inno and SAMSUNG NeXus portable receiver/MP3 player hybrids to market.

