Brussels, 08/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has cleared one-stop agreements for the licensing of TV and radio music via the Internet. Radio and television broadcasters have in the last few years begun to broadcast their programmes via the Internet along with the traditional terrestrial or cable transmission to European homes. This practice, known as simulcasting, requires broadcasters to obtain international licenses from music rights owners in each of the countries where their Internet transmission is accessible. The present case stems from a notification by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). The notification was made in the name of the copyright administration societies of music record companies. Broadcasters can get a single 'one-stop shop' licence from royalty collecting agencies to cover Internet broadcasts across most of the 18-nation European Economic Area (EEA) except in Spain and France. The Commission believes the new system will also boost competition among the societies that collect the royalties on behalf of the music industry notably in terms of the fees they charge. Commenting on the decision, Competition Commissioner Mario Monti said, "The creation of a legitimate marketplace for so-called simulcasting will benefit both consumers and rights-holders. Consumers will be able to access their favourite radio and/or TV music programmes from virtually anywhere in the world. At the same time, the framework put in place ensures that the rights-holders will be properly paid". This is the first decision by the Commission concerning the collective management and licensing of copyright for the purposes of commercial exploitation of musical works on the Internet.