Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what oversight exists of tribunal decisions relating to Performing Right Society licensing fees; and what criteria are used to determine whether such fees represent fair and reasonable usage costs for small businesses and sole traders.

Performing Right Society Limited (PRS) is a collective management organisation (CMO) and a private commercial entity and the Government does not regulate its commercial affairs. Consequently, the Department has not made an impact assessment in relation to PRS's commercial licensing fees.

Licence fees are usually the outcome of negotiation between a CMO and a trade body representing potential licensees in a sector. Prospective licensees have recourse to the Copyright Tribunal if dissatisfied with the terms of a licence, and the Tribunal’s decisions can be appealed in the High Court or the Court of Session in Scotland.