YouTube, PRS clash over UK licence
The IPKat thanks Ross Kay for pointing him to this Reuters UK link to a report by Yinka Adegoke that Google online video site YouTube says it's blocking all music videos to British users after it was unable to reach a rights deal with PRS for Music (the main songwriters' collection society). PRS, which represents the financial interests of nearly 50,000 composers whose royalties it collects, has reportedly asked for "many, many times" more than the previous licensing agreement that has expired. Both sides are busily saying that it's the other side's fault.
The IPKat notes that, while this dispute goes on, the losers are YouTube users, copyright owners, advertisers -- in fact, everyone. He looks forward to bringing news of a happy settlement, but that doesn't look imminent if this feature is anything to go by.