Belgian collecting society SABAM sues main internet service providers for payment of royalties for music that is downloaded or streamed by their customers

The Belgian collecting society SABAM claims that the internet service providers Belgacom, Telenet and Voo should pay a royalty of 3.4% of their turnover for music that is downloaded or streamed by their customers. Because the service providers refuse any such payment, SABAM sued them in court and the Brussels court of first instance will now examine whether internet service providers are liable to pay royalties to the owners of copyright protected music.