Small Webcaster Community Initiative

	Tuesday, June 10, 2008 -- Small Webcaster Community Initiative today submitted a written statement to the House Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property as part of a hearing concerning the "Performance Rights Act". Read Our Complete Statement

About the Initiative

Small Webcaster Community Initiative, established in May 2003, is a special interest group devoted to promoting and protecting independent online music radio. We strive to maintain a fair balance between the intellectual property rights of songwriters and record labels and the best interests of our members who wish to use copyrighted musical works and sound recordings for creative purposes within their Webcast programming.

If you've ever listened to SHOUTcast, Live365, AudioRealm, Mercora, SWCast Network, AccuRadio, or Soma FM then you can appreciate the sheer depth of original music programming that individual broadcasters have to offer in contrast with the major corporate networks.

Visit the SaveNetRadio Coalition Official Homepage

You Can Make a Difference

The recording industry is again up to its old tricks. Corrupt politicians and highly-paid lobbiests are threatening the viability of Internet radio — with legislation that continues to impose needless and unjustified burdens on the same people who already pay exorbitant royalties to the major labels.

It's time to set the record straight. As a community, we deserve to make our voices heard loud and clear on Capitol Hill. The future of Web radio is now. So, let's take back the Internet airwaves once and for all.

	Internet Radio Licensing Before you launch your first Web radio station, remember that you must typically pay royalties for public performance. Please refer to the following sites for more information about Webcaster licensing: http://www.ascap.com/ http://www.bmi.com/ http://www.sesac.com/ http://www.copyright.gov/ Foreign Royalty Obligations The scope of the DMCA statutory license is limited to the territory of the United States. Thus far, SoundExchange has not announced its intention to join in the IFPI International Webcaster Agreement. Therefore, eligible Webcasters that elect to operate under the DMCA statutory license must confine all transmissions to the United States. Undertaking unauthorized public performances in foreign territories, may subject the Webcaster to liability for copyright infringement. The Legality of Podcasting Podcasting is a distribution medium. Since ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC can only license music for public performance, you must clear these separate distribution rights instead through Harry Fox Agency. http://www.harryfox.com/ In addition to the mechanical license, you must secure a master-use license for each sound recording with the respective record label.

Become a Donor

Our organization is funded entirely by people like yourself who believe in our cause. Voluntary financial contributions of any amount will help us to cover our basic operational costs (we budget all monies collected toward day-to-day administrative expenses, legal consultation fees, etc).

Please take a moment to share the gift of independent online music radio by making a donation today. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

Get Involved Today

Whether you're an online broadcaster or disc-jockey or whether you're an indie musician or record label, we'd be glad to have you onboard with us.

To learn more about our organization, visit us online:

http://www.smallwebcaster.org/

For general inquiries, you may also write to us via postal mail:

Small Webcaster Community Initiative
ATTN: Randall Krause
108 W Green St Ste 110
Champaign, IL 61820
UNITED STATES

'SHOUTcast' is a registered trademark of America Online Inc. 'Live365' is a registered trademark of Live365 Inc. 'Mercora' is a registered trademark of Mercora Inc. 'SWCast Network' is a registered trademark of SWCast Network Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

'Small Webcaster Community Initiative', 'SWCI', 'Redefining Music Royalties for Small Webcasters', 'Long Live the DJ in You', 'SmallWebcaster.org', and the associated logotypes are servicemarks.

The information contained hereinbefore is not intended to constitute legal advice or consultation, nor does it form an attorney-client relationship.