Sekou Campbell authors article for Law 360: Peloton Suit Shows Sync Licensing Is Next Copyright Horizon

 

Law 360 recently published an article authored by our Philadelphia partner, Sekou Campbell, that dives into the synchronization licensing gap between copyrighted music and audiovisual imagery.

 

Here’s a short synopsis of the article:

Peloton Interactive Inc.’s innovative stationary bikes synchronize recorded music with an instructor-led workout streamed through an app or on those bikes’ screens. However, Peloton, and others like it, face a significant challenge with their musical offerings: a synchronization licensing gap.

Synchronization rights refer to the right to create a derivative work by combining (synchronizing) an existing copyrighted song with an audiovisual image like a television show, commercial, film or, in this case, a workout video. In contrast to other licenses, like public performance (the right to play recorded music in public) or mechanical (the right to reproduce music in audio-only format), sync rights to each individual song must be individually negotiated. While obtaining such rights is generally burdensome, television, film and commercial producers have enough lead time to curate and obtain sync licenses to the necessary songs for their works.  

Read the entire article HERE.

*Culhane Meadows is ranked by U.S. News/Best Law Firms in Technology Law, Bankruptcy/Reorganization Law, and Information Technology Law. This website and the communications herein may be considered attorney advertising. Previous results are not a guarantee of future outcome. This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information herein is not intended to create an attorney-client or similar relationship. Until you establish such a relationship and receive an engagement letter, you have not hired a Culhane Meadows attorney nor become a client of the firm. Whether you are a new or existing client of the firm, Culhane Meadows must determine that there is no conflict of interest and that it is willing and otherwise able to accept the new engagement before representing you on a new matter. Only if and after Culhane Meadows has informed you it is willing and able to accept your new matter should you send the firm any information or documents that you consider private or confidential. Such information will not be treated as private, confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure until Culhane Meadows has communicated in writing that it is willing and able to accept your new matter and provide you with legal counsel. Whether you need legal services and which lawyer or law firm you select are important decisions that should not be based on this website alone.

Accessibility Toolbar