Copyright group wants libraries to pay to read to kids

Encouraging children to read is a value held dear by many people, but maybe not by one rights group in Belgium -- at least, it's not held as dear as the sacred principle of copyright. SABAM, the country's organization of authors, composers and publishers, is trying to get local libraries to pay a fee when they hold volunteer-led public reading groups for kids, according to The Next Web, because the volunteers are reading copyrighted material out loud. One librarian has estimated the fee could be around $328 a year, which is money that maybe -- just maybe -- could be better spent buying books. We're totally on board with copyright holders being compensated where due, but surely targeting a group of eager and enthusiastic to learn kids is a step too far?

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