As publishers, we tend to sit in our book publishing bubble and don’t look out onto the parallel fields of music, news, journalism, and media. Technology in transactional licensing is where I really get excited. It’s an area where publishing crosses over into the worlds of other aligned media. We all have one thing in common. We publish and produce Intellectual Property (IP), and I think it’s important to take a look at the technologies being deployed around IP in all industries, and to share our innovations in that space.
Google Signs Licensing Agreement with IPRS, India’s Largest Music Trade Body
Mumbai-based Indian Performing Rights Society (IPRS), a major music organization which represents composers, lyricists, and music publishers, has granted Google a license to utilize its members’ work in India across YouTube and related services. The major organization remains the strongest representative trade body of music owners in the country.
Source: Google Signs Licensing Agreement with IPRS, India’s Largest Music Representative Trade Body
EU copyright debate turns sinister as MEP receives bomb threat
It has come to light that German police in Bonn are investigating a bomb threat against the copyright directive’s rapporteur, Axel Voss, an EPP member. The regional daily newspaper General-Anzeigerm reports the existence of a post on a Finnish forum which states that a device planted at the CDU politician’s office in Bonn will be detonated if the European Parliament votes for the planned changes to EU copyright law next week.
Sources: EU copyright debate turns sinister as MEP receives bomb threat
Risks and rewards: The future of blockchain games
Blockchain and games have an enticing future. Companies are setting up $100 million fund to entice developers to make games with blockchain, the secure and transparent decentralized ledger technology that powers Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. But plenty of game industry people are skeptical, considering the slide in the value of cryptocurrencies in the past year.
American Federation of Musicians Steps Up Pressure for Fair Streaming Residuals
The American Federation of Musicians indicated that they are seeking fair streaming media residuals for content created for the Internet. The union noted that other unions already receive streaming residuals. But the American Federation of Musicians has been so far excluded. While they do receive residuals for streamed TV shows and theatrical movies, they do not receive residuals for content intended for the Internet.
Source: American Federation of Musicians Steps Up Pressure for Fair Streaming Residuals
Spotify Planning Songwriter Town Hall Meetings Following Royalty Rate Appeal
Spotify is planning to host songwriter town hall meetings in Los Angeles and Nashville in response to the streaming service’s appeal of the Copyright Royalty Board’s rate determination, according to an email from Mark Beaven, founder and co-CEO of Advanced Alternative Media (AAM). Beaven is cautioning songwriters from attending these potential meetings.
Source: Spotify Planning Songwriter Town Hall Meetings Following Royalty Rate Appeal, Says Mark Beaven
What Happens if Google Buys the World’s Biggest Music Company?
If Article 13 passes in its current form, say its supporters, large music rightsholders will be in a far better negotiating position next time they sit down to strike a global licensing deal with Google. But what if Google ends up buying 50% of Universal Music Group? Or indeed, ends up buying the whole of Universal Music Group?
Source: What Happens if Google Buys the World’s Biggest Music Company?
Who owns IP on the blockchain? CryptoKitties give glimpse into less-cute crypto concerns
At SXSW 2019, the once-popular collectible cat avatar game Cryptokitties continues to prosper as blockchain gaming explores the technology’s foundation—particularly the topic of ownership. At SXSW on Thursday, executives at the Vancouver, BC-based company provided their viewpoints regarding the past and future of blockchain-based collectible games in the context of the greater societal adoption of blockchain technology.
Source: Who owns IP on the blockchain? CryptoKitties give glimpse into less-cute crypto concerns | PitchBook
Copyrights Protection of Works Generated by Artificial Intelligence
More than a total absence of a human creative contribution, most of the cases related to computer-generated works related to the difficulty to identify the contribution of the author, although this existed. AI allows the creation of works where there is no human contribution to the creative process. Or, at least, it is not enough so we can sustain that the requirement of originality – mandatory to the protection of these kind of works – is fulfilled.
Source: Copyrights Protection of Works Generated by Artificial Intelligence
US music advocacy groups call for a ‘more effective system of digital attribution and credits’
Four US-based music advocacy organizations have issued a joint statement calling for the creation of a “more robust and effective system of digital attribution and credits”. The four industry bodies are the Artist Rights Alliance, SAG-AFTRA (The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists ), RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America ) and A2IM (The American Association of Independent Music).
Source: US music advocacy groups call for a ‘more effective system of digital attribution and credits’
RIAA Blasts a Federal Judge for Giving ‘Carte Blanche to Internet Pirates’
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is now blasting a federal judge that ruled in favor of YouTube stream-rippers FLVTO.biz and 2conv.com in January. In a sharply-worded appeal, the RIAA’s hired attorneys sharply criticized U.S. District Court judge Claude M. Hilton, who ruled that the RIAA and its major label clients simply lacked proper jurisdiction in the case.
Source: RIAA Blasts a Federal Judge for Giving ‘Carte Blanche to Internet Pirates’