Re:Sound challenges decision not to enforce royalties on streaming free trials

By Ahmad Hathout A non-profit group representing the rights of performers and makers of sound recordings is asking for a judicial review of a decision by the Copyright Board that declined enforcing royalties during streaming services’ free trial periods. Canada’s satellite radio provider SiriusXM and U.S. music streaming service Pandora argued before the Copyright Board’s tariff-setting hearing that free trials of no more than 31 days in a single year should not be subject to royalties in part because these trials increase the number of subscribers, translating to more long-run plays and royalties – a mutually beneficial proposition. Re:Sound countered...