Copyright judges reject webcaster appeals

The Copyright Royalty Board yesterday rejected all requests from webcasters that it reconsider the new fee structure for Internet radio it announced March 2. Webcasters have said the new rate structure, which raises the royalty rates and assesses fees on a per play basis, will cripple Internet radio. In addition, pubcasters that stream lots of hours would see their own rates rise dramatically. The new fee system goes into effect May 15; lawyers representing webcasters say the next step is likely an appeal to D.C.'s U.S. Court of Appeals. Coincidentally, a coalition of artists and webcasters yesterday announced "a national campaign to save Internet radio." See also SavetheStreams.org.