"Jan. 9, 2004
Bill would block royalties to US artists
By JANINE ZACHARIA
WASHINGTON
Israeli officials have drafted a copyright bill that would halt compensation to American artists and their record companies when their songs are played on Israeli radio stations and in Israeli clubs.

Other artists, Israeli and foreign, would continue to receive payment under current practices, sources in Washington familiar with the bill told The Jerusalem Post.

A Justice Ministry official confirmed the story, but declined to offer further details.

A US recording industry official said the bill is still in the "discussion stage" and had yet to be brought before the cabinet.

But the official expressed deep concern that the proposal would eliminate protection for American artists.

"Right now, when music gets played on the radio or in a bar [in Israel] there's compensation paid to record companies and performers. Under the new provision, compensation would not be paid if the performer is American," the official said. "The government of Israel is considering a proposal that would discriminate against US nationals. It's outrageous."

The draft is part of Israel's belated effort to modernize its copyright law, which dates back to 1911.

Israel seems to be considering excluding US artists and companies from payment, since officials believe only artists from countries which are party to the Rome Convention – a 1961 copyright treaty that grants protection to performers, record producers, and broadcasting organizations – should be compensated. "

Read the whole article

Note-free signup is required

But the official expressed deep concern that the proposal would eliminate protection for American artists.

Since when do they (recording industry) give a damn about the artists

besides last I heard Isreal was going to crack down on copyright infringment. this seems to go in the other direction

I promise you, the "outrage" by the RIAA is NOT on behalf of the artists, it is because the labels will not get paid. Record companies are NOT supposed to get $$$ for public performances of songs. The ONLY compensation a record company should recieve is for the SALE of a record they made, NOT for the record being played on a jukebox or broadcast over the airways. The ARTIST and SONGWRITER is who should get any performance royalties. The RIAA has no legitimate beef here. ASCAP and BMI and SESAC etc. should be the ones crying foul on behalf of the artists/songwriters if anybody should.

Shmoo, of Electric Gypsy
Support Local and Independent Music!

Bad for RIAA = Good

If artists were actually seeing royalties on airplay I would be concerned, but everything I've heard says they aren't, so up yours, riaa.

This is great news. Because the artists won't know the difference since they get raped out of every cent anyway, the only victim here is RIAA. Thanks Israel.

Interesting article Code. It will be interesting to see what happens with this in the days ahead.

BAWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Now if only that could happen here.

Is it wrong ,as an american, that I find it funny and fitting that America is being discriminated against?

but you're the consumer... you're never wrong.

I'm american and I'd have to agree with you.


I see war against Israel coming.

American copyright affected only? Some high-up in Israel really does not like americans. The US labels will kick up a big fuss, but even their political connections would be challenged in israel.

Havn't read the full story as it requires registration, but I do not see any justification for this bill other than annoying America. Without a good reason, its not likely to pass.

"I see war against Israel coming."
Of course you do. There crossing the all mighty Americans. Freedom fighters out to wipe anyone that dissagrees with us out like the scum they are.

I better go. I think some men with copies of the Patriot Act are come up the stairs to take me away. After all. I don't worship the almighty Bush man, and therefore am a terrorist.

bush isn't the best president we have had, and he isnt' the worst we have had either, and last elections he was the least of the evils, and same for the next, as bad as that sounds, some VERY stupid bills were brought about under his current reign, but have to remember it was the clinton admin that pushed the DMCA through *shrugs* and as for war with isreal, that won't happen, and i see what they are doing as a step in the right direction...but then again, anything that hurts the big 5 "almost 4 now" and the RIAA is a good thing

The Jerusalem Post has been in the news lately with Conrad Black's appearance before the SEC. He took the 5th Amendment repeatedly on questions of financial improprieties. His problems are going to have serious implications for his flunkies, Kissinger, George Will, William F Bucley. Jail stripes for all involved. I guess I won't take up the offer of a free subscription in order to read the full article!

I like this quote regarding Black: " He is your typical verbose, bombastic megalomaniac, and they never go quietly "
Roy Greenslade, media commentator

Conrad Black is almost in the same leagues of ruthless media pig Rupert Murdoch. Our Canadian friends on Dmusic will know what I'm talking about. Black is a major financier of ultra-conservative programs, and uses his newspapers to flog his despicable ideas.

Please note Israel has never signed on with Jay Berman's IFPI copyright globalism. One cannot help but conclude that avoidance of payments on a nation-state level dwarves so-called piracy by individuals. As usual, the RIAA and IFPI are blowing clouds of smoke to obscure their true activities, the hemmoraging of money out the backdoor of factories. Now that manufacturing is accomplished all over the world, its is impossible for artist represntatives to monitor or audit "units pressed."

I don't see any way to truly police emerging nations. They seem to demand the same breaks that Amerika itself used between 1776-1900, refusing to pay high fees for Old World author's works. This therefore becomes a complex trade issue, involving protectionist tariffs like any other industry. The simplistic redundant lies spread by the IFPI cannot cloud the truth: a citizen in Brazil or Liberia cannot afford to pay a years' salary for one CD.

It is despicable that AFTT and GATT negotiations have 3rd World countries offering to trade copyright protections for a lessening of Amerikan farm subsidies. Jay Berman's client-states are truly representative of 'Axis of Evil" economies.

I don't think it is anti-americanism. I think they realize that the music the RIAA etc is trying to sell is demoralizing itself little by little and that they are being greedy. So perhaps they feel that they are protecting their people from it as well as boycotting the US music industry. Unfortunately the indies will probably also suffer from this. Yep, the RIAA sueing spree has really paid off......

given the degree of financial support the US has given to Israel...
wouldn't this constitute a lot of chutzpah?
(Yiddish khutspe, from Mishnaic Hebrew upâ, from ap, to be insolent. )

I agree, it's like a Bizarro world from DC Comics, where the RIAA's actions are done ass backward....kind of hilarious if you ask me

Anti-American? Try anti-bullshit.

For those of you who don't know, Israel is also refusing to use any new Microsoft products. They are encouraging people to continue using Win98, etc.

If bullshit = America. Then yes, they are anti-American.

Again, Thank you Israel.

I agree with TheSherminator...
if Israel is anti-bullshit...then I'm with Israel

Well, if labels do not have to be compensated if Israeli bars play a US song, I would think that one side-effect would be that more US music would be played in lieu of, say, European music. Now if this line of reasoning is sound, then would it not stand to reason that US artists would get more exposure and, perhaps, more Israelis will attend concerts by US artists as opposed to European artists?

...and buy more US (RIAA) Albums and CD's ?

Shmoo

This is all posturing, Israel and the Entertainment Industry? Where do you think a lot of $ support for Israel comes from? There will never be a war with Israel, the U.S. does whatever Israel wants it to.

As for America being discriminated against, on one hand it's about time, but if you have spent any large amount of time in another country or lived there, you know how the States are looked upon - and for VERY good reason!

On the other, the amount of nonbribery financial aide the States provides to other nations is deplorable. Time to start fixing things at home, then worry about the rest of the world.

Correction...

Israel is America's playtoy. Because of the fact that America and Britain forced the palestinians out of that area. That's why they're still fighting. But in all honesty, I believe either the Syrians, Egyptians or someone else honestly has all of their land. Not Israeli land.

Other than that, the more everyone starves the RIAA the sooner the monster can die...

That entire region is a political disaster area.