Googleis to re-open UK access to music videos onYouTubeafter reaching an agreement with the
Performing Rights Society (PRS).
The Google-owned site
blocked UK access to thousands of videos in March after it
failed to reach a rights deal with PRS, which collects music
royalties.
At the time, Patrick Walker, Emea director of video partnerships
at Google, said YouTube would block music videos in the UK until it
reached an agreement with PRS.
YouTube and PRS have announced that they have come to a
"mutually acceptable" agreement, but did not reveal financial
terms.
Under the agreement, YouTube will pay a lump sum to PRS covering
the period from January 2009 to June 2012 and work out a new
multi-year deal, according to
Reuters.
The deal means that music videos from Universal Music Group,
Sony Music Entertainment, EMI Group and thousands of independent
labels will soon be accessible to YouTube users in the UK.
PRS and other music rights-holders have argued that YouTube
should pay a higher fee because many users visit the site to watch
music videos.
Music from Warner Music Group is still not officially available
on YouTube in an ongoing dispute over payment terms.