Broadcasters’ news bulletin (Jan-June 1932)

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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS NATIONAL PRESS BUILDING WASHINGTON, D. C. June 9, 1932 TO KLL BROADCASTERS: Although the Copyright Bill vifas not reached yesterday, because of prolonged debete on the Public Building Wage Bill which immediately preceded it on the House C^lend^r, the splendid response of the brof’dcastcrs all over the country lus cre¬ ated overwhelming’ sentiment in the ‘"ouse of Representatives in favor of the pass¬ age of the Copyright Bill with our -amendment. Unless Congress adjourns or the House recesses before next Wednesday, our chances of getting the amended bill passed are excellent. The Committee on Patents in charge of the Copyright Bill now heads the Calend-’^r. Our first task, therefore, is to make sure that next Wednesda,y June I5 is maintained as Calendar V/ednesday. Second, we must keep every member of the House of Representatives impressed with the vital importance of pa.ssing the Sirovich Copyright Bill (H.R. 1097b) with the one essential emendment which will be introduced by Congressman Chindblom, of Ill inois . This Amendment will protect not only the broedcastin-' industry but all users of radio receiving sets — hotels, theatres, barber shops, dru^: stores, bootblacks, and similer establishments — "vgeinst copyright racketeering. It provides that in c^^.se of infrinaement proceedin's brought in behalf of any combination which ex¬ ercises substantial control over performing or broadcasting riahts, the court she'll have the ri^ht to fix a reasonable license fee instead of d.amages and order the issuance of a. license on those terms. In this way the public ’.?ill be protected by havinr: the benefit of a court review over any demands made by a group v;hich ex¬ ercises a monopoly control over the use of copyrighted music. There willdoubtless be attempts to wreck the bill by other amendments, or even to force the substitution of the Vestal Bill, which so nearly ruined the bro'^dcasting industry last year. Cooyright racketeering has only a few open and active supporters in Con-^'^ress, but they make up in energy and ingenuity what they lack in numbers. Therefore, warn your Congressmen not to support any other Copyright Bill except H.R. IO976. If e.ny of your Con;'’'ressmen express doubts rer^^rding the bill or our amendment, wire us at once, and v/e will cell on the doubters imrriedietely . A clear victory in the House is in sight. Wire, telegraph, telephone! At last Congress knows that there is a broadC'Stina industry in this country. Sincerely yours, OSWALD E. SCHUETTE