Google Inc.’s YouTube online video service, and Rumblefish are reportedly set to hold a joint press conference on June 29. The pair are likely to announce a new deal over the use of licensed music on YouTube videos uploaded by users.
An e-mail pitch seen by CNET indicates that Rumblefish chief executive Paul Anthony and a YouTube executive will hold the conference.
Rumblefish is a music-licensing firm that arranges deals with music companies and artists for the use of their music in marketing campaigns or products offered by third parties. YouTube enlisted Rumblefish’ services back in 2008 to give video uploaders a legal option for using music in their content.
We hope the press conference means something good for the millions-strong YouTube community.
Result for: licensed music
Following a lengthy investigation into copyright infringement, a Milan judge has this week ordered the operators of a few unauthorized music download sites to forfeit $2.4 million euros.
The sites were each accused of offering unlicensed music for download, either for free or for prices much cheaper than iTunes or Amazon MP3.
The investigation was headed by the Italian Fiscal Police, and began in 2003. 54 suspects were arrested in Italy, but all went free after the “case was dropped as a result of the expiry of the relevant limitation period.”
Despite that technical difficulty, the Judge for Preliminary Investigations said it had been proven that the offenses had indeed been committed and the money, which had been frozen anyways, was seized.
Result for: licensed music
According to a new survey by music consultancy Music Ally, many users would completely disregard warning letters from ISPs threatening to shut off their Internet for piracy offenses.
The survey was given to US, UK and French citizens, and published by the research firm The Leading Question.
The study also shows that most consumers would prefer to download music legally from their ISPs rather then from their mobile carriers or from their cable providers.
46 percent of those studied chose their ISP as the “ideal music provider” compared to 10 percent who chose their cable or satellite TV company, and 5 percent who chose their mobile operator. An even smaller number, 3 percent, chose handset manufacturers such as Nokia or Apple as their preferred provider.
“ISPs need to find new added value offerings as their core service of offering access to the Internet becomes increasingly commoditised,” noted Tim Walker, CEO of The Leading Question, on Music Ally’s Website.
“Music looks like a good bet both for keeping existing customers and getting new ones, particularly if you can bundle in a music service so that it ‘feels’ free or very cheap.”
To the other matter at hand, 41 percent of those surveyed “admitted to using P2P services said they would stop downloading unlicensed music if they were sent a warning letter from their ISP.” 63 percent said they would stop if they were threatened with having their Internet service shut off.
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