The MLC finally posted its “by-laws” that gives some insight into its operations. For a non-profit like The MLC, Inc., the by laws are essentially the operating rules of the corporation.

Typically, a non profit’s by laws cover issues like the purpose of the organization, the location of offices, the general governing structure, the number of governing members (like the board of directors) and the process for the selection, election and removal of members, terms of service for governing members, qualifications for those serving to govern the organization, methods of conducting business and organizational policy statements, meeting times and dates (usually a minimum of annually), limitations of the organization and its governing body and its fiscal year (for accounting and reporting this has to be a twelve month period).

The MLC’s by laws have all these typical components, but also have an acknowledgement of the oversight role of the Copyright Office and the Librarian of Congress as required by Title I of the Music Modernization Act.

One thing is a bit unusual about The MLC’s by laws given that it was sold to songwriters by the NMPA on the basis that “the services pay for everything” is the broad indemnification clause in Article VIII of the by laws. What this means is that The MLC is going to cover the costs if any “Person” gets sued or criminally prosecuted:

Neither the Members nor any Director of the Collective shall be personally responsible for monetary damages for any action taken, or any failure to take any action, provided however, that this provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of any Member or Director to the extent that such elimination or limitation of liability is expressly prohibited by applicable law, as in effect at the time of the alleged action or failure to take action by such Member or Director.

The Collective shall indemnify any Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative by reason of the fact that such Person is or was a Director or Officer of the Collective, or is or was serving any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in any capacity at the request of the Collective, [that means HFA] to the fullest extent and in the manner set forth in and permitted by the DGCL, as from time to time in effect. Such right of indemnification shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which such Director or Officer may be entitled apart from the foregoing provisions.

(b) The Collective shall pay expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a Director or Officer of the Collective referred to in Section 8.4(a) of this Article VIII in defending or appearing as a witness in any civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding described in Section 8.4(a) of this Article VIII in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding. The expenses incurred by such Director or Officer shall be paid by the Collective in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding only upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Director or Officer to repay all amounts advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the Director or Officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Collective (which undertaking need not be further secured).

Wonder where that money is going to come from?