The requirement of a compulsory music license would...

The requirement of a compulsory music license would have a “chilling effect” on music releases, said Dina LaPolt, attorney at LaPolt Law and her client, Steven Tyler of the band Aerosmith, in comments for a Commerce Department green paper Monday (http://bit.ly/1bG1HWT). Artists and songwriters “deserve approval” over the use of their work, said LaPolt. The present system allows “both sides of a negotiation [to] come away satisfied -- as opposed to a compulsory license, which would often leave the rights holder frustrated,” she said. Pop star Britney Spears signed a letter supporting LaPolt’s comments, LaPolt said. Commerce released the green paper to ensure that “copyright policy provides strong incentives for creativity, while promoting innovation in the digital economy,” it said (http://1.usa.gov/1bySZcG) (CD Nov 29 p11).