Frontline Trenches or, Rather, Open Borders? The Multi-Territorial Licensing and Digital Export of Czech Music

Abstract The article explores the impact of the Directive on collective management and multi-territorial licensing 2014/26/EU on the music industry in the Czech Republic. The analysis focusses on the transaction costs associated with granting multi-territorial licence for online distribution of music content, the position of Czech collective rights management organisations vis-à-vis providers of online music services, and the availability of Czech repertoire in the catalogues of streaming services offered worldwide. For the purpose of contextual analysis of the functioning of the digital music market in the EU and its impact on the availability of Czech music content in the offerings of online music services abroad, we will also use a comparison with the results of our previous research on licensing in the audiovisual sector and its impact on the availability of Czech audiovisual content in the offerings of online audiovisual services. The aim of the comparison is to describe the differences and similarities between the licensing regimes of both markets for copyright-protected content and to identify the causes or reasons for the better or worse international availability of Czech music and audiovisual content in the offerings of digital services abroad.