A type of copy-protected CD that contains two copies of each
song, playable on different music devices, is provoking a row
because songwriters and music publishers are claiming that they
should receive royalties for both versions of a song, according to
CNET News.com.
The aim behind copy-protected CDs is to limit the types of
devices that the CD can be played on and copied to. Of most concern
to the record labels is the ability to play music on a computer,
with the likelihood that the CD will then be copied onto a computer
hard drive, and the copyrighted music then made available over the
internet to users of peer-to-peer file-sharing systems.
But customers do not like such limitations; they want to be able
to play their legitimately purchased CDs wherever and on whatever
they like.
One solution is the development of so-called "double session"
CDs, containing two copies of each song, each copy of which can be
played on a different device. The trouble, according to a report by
CNET News.com, is that music publishers and songwriters are now
demanding additional royalties for the second copy of the song.
Songwriters and music publishers generally get paid per song
sold or played in royalty payments. But because millions of double
session CDs have already been sold, a successful claim could result
in a massive back payment – and the record labels are unwilling to
pay.
