Georgia Supreme Court says iHeartRadio can stream pre-1972 music
ATLANTA The Georgia Supreme Court has ruled that music streaming service iHeart Radio is exempt from a Georgia statute that makes it illegal to transfer pre-1972 sound recordings without the owners consent.
In a decision released Monday, the high court responded to a question posed by the U.S. District Court of Middle Georgia, saying the Georgia justices find that the type of internet radio services being offered by iHeartMedia Inc. in this case do fall under the exemption to state law.
According to the Georgia Supreme Court release, Arthur and Barbara Sheridan of Illinois filed a one-count class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia in September 2015 against iHeartMedia, alleging the Delaware-based corporation had violated the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
iHeartRadio has regularly streamed to Georgia customers the pre-1972 recordings that the Sheridans own rights to without license, authority or consent from the Sheridans, and has never compensated the Sheridans for the use and transfer of those pre-1972 master recordings, the high court said.
Read more: http://www.albanyherald.com/features/arts_entertainment/georgia-supreme-court-says-iheartradio-can-stream-pre--music/article_af41b5a2-1d44-5422-b996-fb5ff2911936.html