Twitch makes pact with music publishers



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Added Twitch Music Leader Tracy chan in a statement: “We are delighted to enter into this agreement with NMPA and delighted with our shared commitment to enable songwriters and other creators to share their work and passions while connecting with audiences. That’s what Twitch is everything, and we know music starts with a great song. We look forward to innovative collaborations that will further unleash the incredible potential of our service and community for music publishers and their songwriter partners.

Twitch says it has also created a new process for music rights holders – including NMPA members as well as record labels – to report unauthorized uses of their music.

So far, Twitch has operated under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of 1998 which protects content hosting platforms from liability for user copyright infringement, and describes a process allowing rights holders to file “takedown notices” to report unauthorized musical uses. But this process has frustrated users after the NMPA and RIAA together filed tens of thousands of takedown notices over the past year, often for accidental or relatively minor uses.

According to an email sent to the creators of Twitch and obtained by Billboard, Twitch’s new system is meant to be more “flexible and forgiving to creators who inadvertently or accidentally use music in their streams,” focusing on more egregious uses like replaying a live music concert or playing music. leaked unreleased songs. Instead of suspending accounts that use unauthorized music, as Twitch was running under the DMCA, Twitch will now issue a warning first. As before, it will always remove all on-demand videos that contain unauthorized music from the creator’s channel. “We recognize that not all unauthorized uses of music deserve the same treatment,” the email read, “and we hope we can, as part of our agreements with music rights holders, adopt a balanced approach that supports creators on Twitch. “

However, the email to the creators says the new process doesn’t change the way music can be used on Twitch. Creators still cannot play music during their broadcasts without obtaining the rights to it. Twitch argued that because the majority of the content on the platform is live – and therefore covered by Twitch’s agreements with performing rights organizations, including ASCAP and BMI – Twitch does not need the licenses. traditional music that a platform like YouTube would have. Twitch still does not have a music license agreement with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group.

More details are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Billboard contacted both parties for further information.

Meanwhile, NMPA is still in the midst of its $ 200 million copyright infringement lawsuit against the Roblox gaming platform, as part of the organization’s efforts to crack down on the use of music. unlicensed in the gaming industry.

“[The Twitch agreement] is a very positive development in the larger effort to ensure music is respected in all models of play, ”says Israelite,“ and I hope this will be the first of many positive stories to come out of this effort. . “

UPDATE: This article was updated Sept. 21 at 4:35 p.m. EST to include quotes from Israelites.

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