YouTube, Music Publishers Agree to Licensing Deal

This week, YouTube announced new deals with music publishers that the site claims will provide more money-making opportunities and increased copyright protection.

Announced on the YouTube blog, the new arrangement will more thoroughly compensate producers and artists for the use of their music in user-generated work on the video-sharing site, YouTube said.

So far, publishers that have signed on include ABKCO Music, Inc., Songs Music Publishing, Words & Music, Copyright Administration, BMG Rights Management, Christian Copyright Solutions, Music Services, Reservoir Media Management, and Songs of Virtual.

YouTube’s recent contracts, in addition to a similar agreement last year with the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) and Harry Fox Agency, will allow the company to monetize almost all user-generated YouTube videos that feature music.

Google, YouTube’s parent company, has frequently been criticized by content owners and industry groups for facilitating piracy via its search engine and YouTube. Recently, the companyannounced plans to publish the copyright takedown notices it receives from content owners on a daily basis. The Recording Industry Association of Ameria (RIAA), however, has stated that the efforts are not sufficient in addressing the problems.