Radio License

[Suspective]

We all have downloaded a song, this PPL buisness is really ******. ClubHabbo have closed there radio though so I dont care that much!

[leah]

The illegal music thing isn't the issue here, the license is.
So try to keep it on topic please

[Hayd93]

The illegal music thing isn't the issue here, the license is.
So try to keep it on topic please

The illegal music issue plays a big part in the license. As part of the license the music must be purchased legally. So in actual fact it is part of the license and is actually a very big part of it.

[Grig]

They are going to take this as a serious issue now, do I don't really think that just because in the past they overlooked it or in fact didn't know- they will now! I don't really now how Habbox Live is going to come through, I hope it does- but I cannot fully think of how it'll be. The main problem here is the fact that a lot of the radio revolved around UK djs and listeners. Even if your server is located overseas it may be one of your only legal hopes, because it's a legality issue- there are not many options to hoop through it.

[--ss--]

The PPL licence is useless, it's there to pay royalties to certain record companies (whom you may have not got any material from at all ever) in the UK, it does not cover American record labels.

[timROGERS]

I'm actually very surprised that the multitude of Habbo radios haven't been harassed by PPL and the other licensing authorities before. I would say that it is probably illegal in some way, where it is the listener base of the radio or where the server is hosted. Hopefully Habbox will find some way to continue!

[nvrspk4]

The illegal music issue plays a big part in the license. As part of the license the music must be purchased legally. So in actual fact it is part of the license and is actually a very big part of it.

No, the legality of the music is not the issue in question. The issue in question is that these DJs are buying their music yes but they are rebroadcasting and the PPL wants to cash in on that, the royalties for us rebroadcasting "their" music.

Whether or not legality of music is some clause of their agreement (and I don't doubt they threw in a filler clause) the cost of the license and the reason for the license has nothing, or at least very little to do with illegally downloaded music.

[2hd.]

Having looked at it seems you would need the Small Webcaster Licence as (as far as I know, things may have changed) HxL doesn't generate more than £5000 pre-tax revenue, or, get over 270,000 unique hits to the radio website. The problem is, when you embed the radio in the main site you start taking on Habbox's hits and so if Habbox gets over 270,000 hits and makes at least £5000 from adverts etc., you then qualify for the 'Standard Webcaster Licence' which is £828.25 along with a sneaky £100 administrative charge, which takes you up to just under a grand.

Whether your "legal team" has noticed or not yet, PPL will only cover certain countries, meaning, you can't broadcast to Canada or the USA without buying separate licences from a different copyright holding company.

You also have to report your music usage every 3 months, and so if you then go over, you start getting charged £0.00058 per listener, per song.

The only way I can think you would be able to get out of it, would be to prove there is no financial gain, and no considerable listener numbers, which there is in both cases. OR, you could chose to simply ignore the PPL as they are less likely to follow up a writ to Denmark/USA. Especially in the USA where they have no powers in terms of jurisdiction (this would only be if you have an American host, rather than servers based in Denmark, where the site owner resides).

[Sluing]

The question that comes to mind for myself would be, why would Habbo bare to put this upon the communities that make them? Habbo is not held up by what it has to offer to the world, because quite honestly not too many of us are fond with the route it has taken. Though, we find it rather interesting to get involved with these fansites as a way to equalize the likeness of Habbo. Without the fansites, we would no longer log on as long as we do, leading into the occasional log in and eventually quitting the game all together.

I personally think, that if these accusation of Habbo being involved in such, rather confusing, actions, they're only digging a whole which may leave them in closing altogether.

VIP shouldn't be an issues, and as someone said, if they worry about these small memberships, this truly is a sad company. I personally do not see the urge to purchase this useless pixel furniture, though I do quite enjoy collecting it. Though, as I've stated, I will not go beyond trading for it and consider purchasing it. My money is worth way more time than something not in my hands. While others would disagree and purchase it in a heartbeat. So to conclude, it's all in whether the user has the urge purchase it or not. It has nothing to do with the revenue received by any organization revolved or relating to a Habbo associated website.

So enough of my blabs and good luck to HxF to whatever the future may hold. Hope it stays, I enjoy the Habbo gossip, rumors and other interesting factual information.