Chong meets MRM over collection of copyright tariffs
MRM should not be collecting copyright tariffs from coffeeshop owners for installing TVs in their shops.
KUCHING: Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen on Monday met up with representatives of Music Rights Malaysia Berhad (MRM Berhad) to discuss the collection of copyright tariffs for public performance of music works in Malaysia.
MRM Berhad is the collecting agent for the four companies having the ownership over musical works in Malaysia; namely Music Authors’ Copyright Protection (MACP) Berhad, Public Performance Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Recording Performers Malaysia Berhad, and Performers Rights & Interest Society of Malaysia Berhad.
Following the meeting, Chong revealed in a press statement that he had yesterday written to MRM Berhad regarding several matters.
“MRM should not be collecting copyright tariffs from coffeeshop owners for installing TVs in their shops,” he said.
“The main attraction for these TVs is broadcasting football matches, not musical works. For football matches, the broadcast fee paid to Astro or RTM is sufficient,”
Chong Chieng Jen, Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs
he added.
Furthermore, Chong pointed out that coffeeshops are the eating outlets for the lower income sector; hence the collection of tariffs from these eating outlets will result in the transfer of the costs to their consumers.
“Therefore, any attempt, at this stage, to put further unnecessary financial strain onto the people will in my view be against the government’s policy to lower the costs of living of the people, especially for the lower income group,” he said, while emphasising that the above measures however are not applicable to coffee shops with karaoke settings.
In addition, he emphasised that the tariff for East and West Malaysia should not be the same as it would not be fair, given that the business volume in Sabah and Sarawak were much lower than those in West Malaysia.
“At present, MRM Berhad is charging the same copyright tariff for both Sabah and Sarawak and West Malaysia,” he explained.
“What is deemed fair prices in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor will definitely be deemed expensive in the cities and towns in Sabah and Sarawak,” he pointed out.
Chong assured that he will also look into the complaint of the Sarawak native artistes that they have not received any copyright fees from MRM Berhad for last year.
“I have requested for the breakdown of the distribution of the tariff revenue collected by MRM Berhad and also for clarification on the said complaint,” he said.