Sats seek fee reversal

Foes argue royalty in tune with marketplace

By CHRISTOPHER STERN

WASHINGTON -- Satcasters told a federal court here Thursday that the Copyright Office erred when it hiked royalty fees paid to broadcasters, studios and sports leagues by more than 300% and urged the three-judge panel to reverse the decision.

During oral arguments Thursday, lawyers for the Satellite Broadcasting Communications Assn. argued that the Copyright Office erred when it was calculating costs incurred by satcasters. But lawyers representing the government and the professional sports leagues, including Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Assn. and the National Hockey League, argued that the Copyright Office's decision to raise royalty fees for network signals from 6¢ per subscriber, per month to 27¢ reflected marketplace values.

After the oral arguments, Copyright Office attorney Bill Roberts said he was optimistic that the rate hike would be upheld.

The court is expected to issue a ruling in several months.