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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| YouTube lifts music video block | YouTube lifts music video block |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| YouTube has lifted a block on users viewing official music videos after the website reached an agreement with songwriters' group PRS for Music. | YouTube has lifted a block on users viewing official music videos after the website reached an agreement with songwriters' group PRS for Music. |
| In March, the service blocked thousands of music videos to UK users after failing to reach agreement over fees. | In March, the service blocked thousands of music videos to UK users after failing to reach agreement over fees. |
| YouTube, owned by Google, is paying an undisclosed lump sum to PRS, backdated until January and lasting until 2012. | YouTube, owned by Google, is paying an undisclosed lump sum to PRS, backdated until January and lasting until 2012. |
| Adam Shaw from PRS for Music told the BBC that he was pleased that an agreement had finally been reached. | Adam Shaw from PRS for Music told the BBC that he was pleased that an agreement had finally been reached. |
| "We have 60,000 song-writer and composer members and many of them don't earn very much money at all - 90% of them earn less than £5,000 a year," he said. | |
| "The money we receive is really their living." | "The money we receive is really their living." |
| Sanctioned | Sanctioned |
| YouTube's decision in March theoretically blocked all premium music video content - owned by record labels - in the UK. | YouTube's decision in March theoretically blocked all premium music video content - owned by record labels - in the UK. |
| However, many fan videos and official videos continued to be available on the site, including some sanctioned by the record labels themselves. | However, many fan videos and official videos continued to be available on the site, including some sanctioned by the record labels themselves. |
| If content owners start to see the video site as just another useful platform rather than a threat, then everyone can start making money Rory Cellan-Jones BBC's technology correspondent Read Rory's thoughts in full | If content owners start to see the video site as just another useful platform rather than a threat, then everyone can start making money Rory Cellan-Jones BBC's technology correspondent Read Rory's thoughts in full |
| For example, EMI-owned Parlophone recently became the site's most popular UK channel of the year, with 240 million hits, despite the ban. | For example, EMI-owned Parlophone recently became the site's most popular UK channel of the year, with 240 million hits, despite the ban. |
| However, YouTube said the "tens of thousands" of videos which had disappeared "will come back over the next few days". | However, YouTube said the "tens of thousands" of videos which had disappeared "will come back over the next few days". |
| "The music videos are an extremely popular part of YouTube and this deal doesn't only cover the music videos but also music included in TV programmes like the X Factor and also for the inclusion of music in user videos as well," YouTube's Patrick Walker told the BBC. | "The music videos are an extremely popular part of YouTube and this deal doesn't only cover the music videos but also music included in TV programmes like the X Factor and also for the inclusion of music in user videos as well," YouTube's Patrick Walker told the BBC. |
| The deal will also mean that new material will appear on YouTube as the site signs partnerships with other record labels and guest editors introduce their favourite videos. | The deal will also mean that new material will appear on YouTube as the site signs partnerships with other record labels and guest editors introduce their favourite videos. |
| Pete Waterman says songwriters should get paid properly by YouTube | |
| 'Outraged' | 'Outraged' |
| In the UK, PRS for Music acts on behalf of member publishers as a collecting society for licensing fees relating to the use of music. | In the UK, PRS for Music acts on behalf of member publishers as a collecting society for licensing fees relating to the use of music. |
| At the start of the row Mr Walker told the BBC that PRS was seeking a rise in fees "many, many factors" higher than the previous agreement. | At the start of the row Mr Walker told the BBC that PRS was seeking a rise in fees "many, many factors" higher than the previous agreement. |
| He said the two were "so far apart" that YouTube had no choice but to remove content while negotiations continued. | He said the two were "so far apart" that YouTube had no choice but to remove content while negotiations continued. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY If the public can access videos for free, and the artist still gets paid then it sounds like everyone's a winner Richard Hill, Birmingham Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY If the public can access videos for free, and the artist still gets paid then it sounds like everyone's a winner Richard Hill, Birmingham Send us your comments |
| At the time, Steve Porter, head of PRS, said he was "outraged... shocked and disappointed" by the decision. | At the time, Steve Porter, head of PRS, said he was "outraged... shocked and disappointed" by the decision. |
| He said the move "punishes British consumers and the songwriters whose interests we protect and represent". | He said the move "punishes British consumers and the songwriters whose interests we protect and represent". |
| The Music Publishers Association (MPA) joined PRS in urging Google to rethink, while Lord Carter, who was the UK's minister for communications, technology and broadcasting, also waded into the debate. | The Music Publishers Association (MPA) joined PRS in urging Google to rethink, while Lord Carter, who was the UK's minister for communications, technology and broadcasting, also waded into the debate. |
| Giving evidence before the Business Select Committee, the minister said he suspected a degree of "commercial posturing on the part of both parties" but said the row was indicative of a wider issue. | Giving evidence before the Business Select Committee, the minister said he suspected a degree of "commercial posturing on the part of both parties" but said the row was indicative of a wider issue. |
| YouTube is the world's most popular online video site but has been under increased pressure to generate more revenue since its purchase by Google for $1.65bn (then £875m) in 2006. | YouTube is the world's most popular online video site but has been under increased pressure to generate more revenue since its purchase by Google for $1.65bn (then £875m) in 2006. |
| Services such as Pandora.com, MySpace UK and Imeem have also had issues securing licensing deals in the UK in the past 12 months. | Services such as Pandora.com, MySpace UK and Imeem have also had issues securing licensing deals in the UK in the past 12 months. |