YouTube, music labels in talks to renew licenses

From CNET News.com: YouTube is in talks with at least three of the four top record companies about renewing the video service's music licenses, sources close to the discussion told CNET.

YouTube, acquired by Google in 2006, is one of the most popular music services on the Web. The service offers free music and visitors are not only allowed to watch music videos at no charge but YouTube has acquired licenses that enable videographers to insert music into their clips.

According to the sources, negotiations with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and EMI Music, appear to be going smoothly and one of the labels may have already wrapped up its deal. Supposedly, YouTube has agreed to increase licensing fees and at least one of the labels is said to have secured a promise from YouTube to do more to secure songs from being pirated from the site.

Representatives from each of the companies did not immediately respond to interview requests.

Details about the security issue are few. But last month, the Recording Industry Association of America complained in a blog post that links are posted to YouTube music videos that lead to unauthorized copies of songs. The RIAA made the complaint in its self-described report card about Google's antipiracy issues.

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