Mumbai: Warner/Chappell Music has announced that Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers of Music (SACEM) has joined its Pan-European Digital Licensing (PEDL) initiative. The French Collection Rights Society will now be authorised to offer pan-European digital licences in Warner/Chappell’s Anglo-American repertoire.

The PEDL initiative grants non-exclusive rights in Warner/Chappell Music’s catalogue to those collection societies which comply with a set of common standards, transparent management of rights as well as appropriate compensation for songwriters. In January, Warner/Chappell Music announced GEMA, the MCPS-PRS Alliance and STIM as the first members to sign up to the PEDL initiative, which continues to remain open for other societies to join.

The initiative is consistent with the European Commission’s Recommendation of 18 October 2005 on collective cross-border management of copyright and related rights for legitimate digital music services.

Warner Chappell Music SVP international legal and business affairs Jane Dyball said, "We are delighted to further strengthen our relationship with SACEM by welcoming them to the PEDL initiative. This adds further momentum towards simplifying the process for content users licensing Warner/Chappell’s catalogue, whilst maintaining value for rights-holders and benefiting our song writers by encouraging digital usage of their works."

SACEM CEO and chairman Bernard Miyet said, "By concluding this agreement with Warner/Chappell Music, SACEM proves once again its service to major rights owners and its ability to grant users access to a wide range of repertoire on a pan European basis."