Collins Introduces Songwriter Equity Act

Press Release

Congressman Doug Collins announced today the introduction of the Songwriter Equity Act. The Songwriter Equity Act updates Sections 114 and 115 of the Copyright Act that have prevented modern songwriters from collecting fair market royalty rates for their work.

To remedy this, the SEA would allow a "rate court" to consider other royalty rates as evidence when establishing digital performance rates, and it would adopt a fair rate standard for reproduction (mechanical licenses).

Congressman Collins commented, "Fostering the development of intellectual property has been an important part of the Constitution for more than 200 years. Now, we have to make sure we're doing it on 21st century terms. Songwriters, in one way or another, touch the lives of every American. Today, there are more than 45,000 songwriters in Georgia that deserve honest pay for their honest, original work. For their sake and for the generations of these talented innovators to come, we have to update our laws to encourage creativity and ensure fairness in the marketplace. "

The bill has received public support from The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), The National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA), Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), and The Recording Academy (National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences), and SESAC.

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