The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a draft determination to allow the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) to continue its arrangements for the acquisition and licensing of performing rights in music for a further three years. The previous ACCC authorisation was due to expire on October 31st this year.
APRA is obliged to regularly seek re-authorisation from the ACCC. Each application for authorisation is accompanied by a public consultation period on competition issues affecting APRA's licensees and members.
The ACCC's authorisation comes with a number of conditions attached, which are directed at improving the transparency of the licensing process and APRA's Alternative Disputes Resolution process.
The draft determination can be found here: