Internal Warner Music Memo Shows Google’s Notice and Shakedown Business as Usual | MUSIC • TECHNOLOGY • POLICY

If they’re not funding terrorists, they’re shaking down artists and songwriters….

Music Business Worldwide posted this internal memo from Warner Music chief Steve Cooper about Google’s DMCA abuse and the effect of YouTube’s notice and shakedown negotiation tactics.

“YouTube has a bigger audience than any other streaming service, which presents huge opportunities for the creative community, and we’re always hopeful about the future. But our experiences during these negotiations were proof positive of the acute need to clarify ‘safe harbor’ provisions under US and EU copyright legislation. That’s the only way to conclusively close the gap between the revenue YouTube generates and what songwriters, artists, publishers and labels make in return.

Our sustained investment in new music and the pace with which we embrace emerging technologies, is resulting in some promising growth. However, ‘safe harbor’ laws that don’t protect artists, songwriters and rights-holders remain the weak link in the music ecosystem. We’re now calling for change more loudly than ever.”

via Internal Warner Music Memo Shows Google’s Notice and Shakedown Business as Usual — Artist Rights Watch

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