The European Commission on October 8, 2002 introduced plans to make it cheaper and easier for TV and radio broadcasters to play songs and music videos over the Internet, according to a report by DowJones.com. Because internet transmissions extend beyond national boundaries to around the globe, until now, radio and TV companies had to obtain licenses from national bodies in every country where listeners and viewers accessed online transmissions. The new rules make it possible for broadcasters to shop around to get pan-European Internet licenses from the bodies that collect royalties for singers and songwriters. The E.U. also want the collecting bodies to make their fees more transparent, so the broadcasters will be able to select the most efficient and lowest cost license vendors. According the E.U.'s antitrust chief Mario Monti the new rules will benefit "both consumers and rights-holders" by increasing competition.
