(Nikkei BP Group)
(No.1 High-Tech News Site in Japanese)
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| Liquid Audio to Start Selling Online Music System in Japan
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December 10, 1998 (TOKYO) -- Liquid Audio Inc. of the United States will
enter Japan with sales of its technology to distribute music content
over the Internet, according to Robert Flynn, a company vice president.
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The company plans to increase the number of sales agents handling Liquid
Audio, its system to distribute music content via the Internet, in Japan,
he said.
The company seeks to cooperate with major Japanese record companies as
well as independent recording labels.
The technology of Liquid Audio was designed to distribute music content
via the Internet, and it also features a capability for recording copyrights
and preventing duplication.
In Japan, music.co.jp., inc. had been selling indie labels and other
types of music over the Internet and offering test listening services.
However, online sales of music content have been unsuccessful because
major record companies decided not to cooperate with the company due
to issues over royalties and security.
On Nov. 26, the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and
Publishers (JASRAC) and the Network Music Rights Conference (NMRC) tentatively
agreed on royalties for music distributed over the Internet.
Because such a legal framework has been established, the Japanese market
for the services can grow.
The U.S. company is promoting online music distribution technology and
business models to major record companies, including Toshiba-EMI Ltd.
and Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.
Also, it has started negotiating with organizations of copyright authorizers
such as JASRAC and the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ)
as well as manufacturers of electric appliances, including Matsushita
Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. and Sharp Corp.
Flynn said that the company has completed its technical and marketing
research in Japan. He expects that some companies will soon adopt the
Liquid Audio technology.
Related story: Music
Copyright Agency to Start Rights Brokering Business
(Nikkei
Multimedia)
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