Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co. and two electronics companies are refuting claims that they owe recording artists and record labels royalties, arguing in federal court that certain audio devices in vehicles don’t violate U.S. copyright law.
In their responses to a complaint the Alliance of Artists and Recording Companies filed in July, the automakers, along with Clarion Corp. of America and Denso International America Inc., said they don’t have to pay royalties under the Audio Home Recording Act of 1992 (AHRA). The statute requires businesses that manufacture and sell certain audio-recording electronics to furnish music royalties.
