May 19, 2009

On May 18, 2009, Fitch Even partner Sherri Blount gave a speech at the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) 2009 Spring Conference on the Implications of the Performance Royalty Act (H.R. 848) that was passed by the House Judiciary Committee on May 13, 2009. Miss Blount spoke about the consequences of the Act’s passage by Congress and what it would mean to broadcasters. H.R. 848 will require terrestrial radio broadcasters to pay a performance royalty to record companies and performers when their recordings are aired on traditional terrestrial radio. Historically, terrestrial radio broadcasters have not paid the record labels and performers for broadcasting their music and have only paid the composers/song writers and music publishers through ASCAP and BMI.

Ms. Blount is a frequent speaker on entertainment, intellectual property law and other legal issues. Her practice focuses on Intellectual Property, Entertainment and Media issues. Her entertainment and media clients include national cable networks, radio and television broadcasters, screenwriters and program producers. She also counsels clients in all industry groups on trademark and copyright issues, including complex licensing, branding, trade secrets and unfair competition matters.