I learnt something awfully important on a conference call with Josh Anderson on his Total Web Audio Software Suite. Commercial use of MP3 requires a license!
According to MP3Licensing.com, by Thomson who are the sole licensors of MP3, you need a license for commercial or revenue generating use of MP3 that’s streamed across the internet and a license for you to distribute it. The good thing though (from my interpretation) is the license is not required if your business is generating less than US$100,000 a year… I’m thinking on the Internet, $100,000 is not so uncommon and… hmmm what about our podcasts?
The answer is I don’t know. If you think you might be affected by this, you need to find out more at MP3Licensing.com and consult someone who may know about these things – like your attorney.
Have you been asked to pay the royalties? What is your experience?
