Google blocks music videos on YouTube in UK
By ANIThursday, March 12, 2009
LONDON - Music lovers who are addicted to watching online videos on Youtube will not be able to do so anymore as Google has blocked viewings after a dispute over licensing.
Google had started blocking UK viewers from watching “premium music videos” from the night of March 9.
But now the Internet giant has said that it will take several days until all professional music videos are covered by the restriction.
Google described the move, as a “painful decision” which it knew would cause “significant disappointment”.
PRS for Music licenses Google to make music videos available to UK users on YouTube, but right now the firms are in talks for a new licensing deal.
PRS for Music said it was shocked by Google’s “drastic action” and said that the decision would “punish” music lovers and songwriters.
The collection society, which issues licences and collects royalties on behalf of copyright holders, said Google wants to pay “significantly less than at present to the writers of the music.”
On the other hand, Google said that the deal that was offered to it could maje them lose money every time a video was played.
“Our previous licence from PRS for Music has expired, and we’ve been unable so far to come to an agreement to renew it on terms that are economically sustainable for us,” The Daily Express quoted a statement from Google as saying.
The statement further read: “Prohibitive licensing fees” were an obstacle in the negotiations and added: “We’re still working with PRS for Music in an effort to reach mutually acceptable terms for a new licence, but until we do so we will be blocking premium music videos in the UK that have been supplied or claimed by record labels.
This was a painful decision, and we know the significant disappointment it will cause within the UK.”
PRS for Music said it was “outraged on behalf of consumers and songwriters that Google has chosen to close down access to music videos on YouTube in the UK”.
Although negotiations are on, Google said it would be working “to create more ways to compensate musicians and other rights-holders on YouTube”.
Recently, Google introduced the option for YouTube users to pay to download a song.
“We hope that professional music videos will soon be back on YouTube for our users in the UK to enjoy,” its statement added.
