Appeals Court Rejects Web Radio Ruling Challenge

PHILADELPHIA — A federal court has thrown out a challenge from the broadcasting industry against the U.S. Copyright Office, which ruled late last year that radio stations must pay extra royalties to broadcast over the Internet.

The ruling was a major defeat for operators of radio stations, many of whom also operate Web sites that carry the content of their broadcasts live. If the court’s ruling stands, they will have to pay licensing fees to songwriters, music publishers and record companies.