CCS seeks feedback on MOU to offer rights in musical works

SINGAPORE : The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) wants to find out the public’s views on the current state of competition in the licensing of musical rights to digital licensees.

It is seeking feedback on a Digital Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was signed between the Music Publishers (S) Ltd (MPS), the Composer and Authors Society of Singapore (COMPASS) and 12 music publishers.

The Digital MOU is an agreement between MPS, the 12 music publishers and COMPASS to jointly offer their rights in musical works.

The MOU has already taken effect from 1 June 2012 and will expire on 31 May 2014.

The move to seek feedback comes after MPS applied to CCS on 30 August this year to clarify if the Digital MOU will infringe on or is likely to infringe the Competition Act.

The Competition Act prohibits agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings or concerted practices.

This is said to restrict or distort competition within Singapore.

Currently, the 12 music publishers and COMPASS license out their rights separately.

So a digital licensee who wishes to distribute music online will need to obtain a licence for the mechanical rights from the music publishers via MPS.

It will also need to apply for a licence for the public performance rights from COMPASS.

CCS said the the closing date for feedback on this is 29 November 2012.

— CNA/ms