I've just come across a post on the Times Law Blog by Struan Robertson complaining that he was quoted almost £4,000 to use a piece of music in a podcast. Of course, this is the sort of thing only a lawyer would do, but it's interesting nevertheless. Most people probably don't even think about licensing music for a podcast, let along asking what it might actually cost. But Struan is a solicitor and editor of Pinsent Mason's OUT-LAW.COM and I sympathise with the law firm paranoia about potential copyright infringement.
In the comments to the post Mark Stephens, the high profile media law specialist from Finers Stephens Innocent says his firm actually commissioned new music to use in the firm's podcasts, whilst another commenter highlights the use of "pod safe" music. With the increasing popularity of podcasting, it won't be long before using unlicensed music and sound in podcasts will become an issue that rights owners will want to address.
