With the current signatories to the Bern convention at 167 (see here) the developed and developing world is seeing continual growth in the global intellectual property market.

Music licensing has been vulnerable to piracy for many years before the age of digital downloads and will continue to be a part of the maket for use of music in the consumer and business market for the foreseeable future since whilst there is a will, there will always be a way.

Yet music offers much more value than being compared in cost to a stack of copied CDs purchased from a questionable back street trader. Music curated and organised into playlists designed for your specific business needs provides a more compelling proposition than simply looking at the potential cost benefits of a complete packaged in-store music solution.  So what holds back developing countries from kick starting their intellectual property economy?

Some have deeply rooted institutions and cultures based on thinking intellectual property is free to use. Added to this any lack of interest and potential corruption within enforcement agencies to act on building an intellectual property economy means that the economy as a whole suffers.

Music businesses, record labels in particular struggle to make a profitable business because a large proportion of their potential market is literally being stollen from them.  Likewise the opportunity for international businesses to enter such markets is challenging and in some cases lacks a compelling business benefit.

With so much myth and ambiguity around music for business we have published this infographic that presents the high level options for businesses internationally. If your country has signed the World Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treaty which provides protection for the rental and distribution of copyright for musicians and composers then your options will be clear. Signatory countries agree to implement the treaty within their own law.

Playing music in a business, either in a private environment, or an environment that is more public both require your business to pay for at least one type of license for playing that music under these terms.

Additionally it does not matter if the audience for the music playing is exclusively employees or a mix of employees and customers, or just customers. Playing music from the radio, from CDs from an mp3 player or music downloaded or streamed from the Internet all are covered within this copyright treaty.

But who has the right to collect the royalties for your use of the artists’ music you are playing?

How sure can you be that any of the performing and composition royalty agencies in your country actually directly or indirectly represent the artists you are playing?

The answer to that is unclear and therefore many businesses choose to simply ‘pay to play’ although doing so is costly, especially if you have a number of societies to pay.

But as you will hopefully know now, here at Melody Pods we offer a simpler and more affordable alternative to complex multi licensing situations which make playing music in business arduous.

Here is out infographic on the high level options that you wont here any performing rights society suggest when you ask them direct questions about playing music in your business.

Full version located here: http://www.melodypods.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/business-background-music-free-infographic1.png

Copyright © MelodyPods 2013. If you would like to use this infographic please give Melody Pods credit and link back to this page. You can use the following embedded code to use this infographic in your online blog or website.

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Smaller size version:

<a href=”http://www.melodypods.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/business-background-music-free-infographic.png”><img title=”background music licensing free infographic” alt=”background music licensing free infographic” src=”http://www.melodypods.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/business-background-music-free-infographic-324×1024.png” width=”324″ height=”1024″ /></a>

Full size version:

<a href=”http://www.melodypods.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/business-background-music-free-infographic.png”><img title=”background music licensing free infographic” alt=”background music licensing free infographic” src=”http://www.melodypods.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/business-background-music-free-infographic.png” width=”750″ height=”2370″ /></a>
Please note this information is only provided as guidance and is not intended as legal advice for your specific business needs.

The Infographic will be updated from time to time so this one will be the most up to date version at any time.

Has Your Country Signed The WIPO Treaty? Find Out From The Links Below:

WIPO treaty signatories: a live list is located here: http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/ShowResults.jsp?lang=en&search_what=B&bo_id=17

Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_parties_to_international_copyright_agreements