2004 saw no increase in case activity from 2003. However, background work supporting the Tribunal continues to grow with the increased emphasis on openness and information provision.
No main hearings were held, and just one procedural hearing took place, in the case between British Phonographic Industry Ltd. and the Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society Ltd. The parties settled before the main hearing was due to take place in March 2005, and a Consent Order withdrawing the application was issued.
Another case came off the Tribunal’s list following the liquidation of one of the parties, an Order dismissing the case being issued on 5 April 2004.
Only two new applications were received. One was from Chart Show Channels Ltd. concerning music videos, the other regarded the use of music incorporated into CDs.
At the end of the year, there were again four pending cases before the Tribunal.
The Tribunal held a Training Day in December, which members found helpful. One lay member retired from the Tribunal, having attained the maximum age of 75 years. The Tribunal currently has four lay members. The legislation allows up to eight members; as one of the four remaining lay members will retire in 2005, the Tribunal is likely to need some new members to give sufficient flexibility in panel selection.