Playing a new tune?

One of the complaints about the current copyright regime is the monopoly of performing rights societies - and that they restrict what musicians and songwriters can do with their work - so it is interesting to see the latest news from STIM.. (the Swedish Performing Rights Society) who are trialling a system to allow artists to publish works under Creative Commons for non commercial use.

STIM have taken the move after pressure from their members - but it is hard to know whether it actually addresses the issues for artists publishing music under Creative Commons. It will be interesting to see the follow up in the press though.

Creative Commons has only been around since 2001 so I guess we should congratulate STIM on their rapid reactions in this swiftly changing marketplace........ ;-)