Intellectual Property Law

More on Choruss, Pro and Con

By fred

As we've discussed previously, Choruss is the name of the new entity, backed by three major record labels, that is interested in granting blanket licenses to universities (and someday residential ISPs) to authorize the music swapping (on P2P and otherwise) that has become a fact of digital life. As a big fan of voluntary collective licensing, EFF is following the development of Choruss closely and with great hopes. At the same time, there are many devils in the details.

Fortunately, the public debates about Choruss (which is still a work in progress) have begun, with those on both sides contributing valuable thoughts about the advantages and disadvantages of Choruss (or any system like Choruss):

• Jim Griffin, the head of Choruss, recently delivered a speech aimed at dispelling a number of myths that have been taking root.
• TechDirt, which is on record as opposed to collective licensing for music in general, has raised a number of questions about Choruss.
• Bennett Lincoff, who favors an approach based on legislating a "digital transmission right," recently posted his concerns about Choruss at IP Watch.

The skeptics make some valid points. But so far, I haven't seen anything that makes me think Choruss is necessarily destined to disappoint.

Full post as published by Electronic Freedom Foundation - Deep Links on March 20, 2009 (boomark / email).