Phonographic Performance Ltd and PRS for Music have announced new arrangements for charities and not-for-profit organisations, which means that these organisations will be obliged to pay royalties in respect of recordings of music played at their premises from 01 January 2011.

The provisions in the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, which enable charities and not-for-profit organisations to play copyright-protected sound recordings in public without paying a licence fee are to be repealed.

Charities will have a grace period of one year, and the collection societies promise a new joint and simplified licensing system with no charge for certain uses of music including music used for family occasions such as weddings, as part of religious worship and in hospitals.

Keith Arrowsmith

Head of Intellectual Property & Media