The campaign against a key aspect of new European copyright legislation has picked up a significant backer: the United Nations’ freedom of expression expert. David Kaye, the UN Special Rapporteur, has sent a lengthy letter to the European Commission outlining his concerns about Article 13 of the Copyright in the Digital Single Market Directive.

Source: UN’s freedom of expression top dog slams European copyright plans

The measure could pass by a razor-thin majority, but the votes are not locked down, Nona Parvanova, member of the Council of EuroISPA, told Bloomberg Law. “One thing is certain: all the interested stakeholders will be extremely active on this file until the very last minute before the vote,” she said.

Source: Debate Rages Over EU Copyright Proposal Ahead of Vote

Blockchain could address key issues in the scientific academic publishing system such as lengthy review times and high costs. By offering reputational and economic rewards to peer reviewers, we can ensure that research is peer reviewed and published more efficiently and at a fraction of the cost than is currently possible.

Source: Blockchain could revolutionize academic publishing

The decision represents a blow to the studios, which had warned the judge of consequences. Repeatedly throughout the litigation, for instance, defendants’ attorney highlighted how under plaintiff’s theories, Microsoft could be deemed the owner of what authors create in Word. The use of technology shouldn’t add up to infringement, argued Kelly Klaus of Munger Tolles & Olson.

Source: Judge Allows Copyright Claims Over Technology Used on Disney’s ‘Avengers’

The new venture, the Colorado Sun, will be launched in partnership with the Civil Media Company, a New York-based startup that aims to use blockchain technology to launch 1,000 publications nationwide by the end of the year.

Source: Ex-Denver Post Journalists Launch New Media Venture on the Blockchain

Today, if a copyright holder finds infringing content online, they can ask a publisher or internet service provider to remove it. But the law, as with any new technology, hasn’t kept pace with blockchain, which has gained popularity in part because no single person can remove or alter information or transaction records.

Source: Budding Blockchain, Copyright Relationship Needs Work

“This is about where we are – not we, YouTube, but where the industry is – and how do we move forward? And to me that’s the key: how do we elegantly move forward as we are transitioning from 18 years of decline, where artist development may have gone a little thin?”

Source: Lyor Cohen on YouTube Music: ‘How do we actually grow the business?’

Sony Music and The Orchard have confirmed that they will share the proceeds from the sale of  shares in Spotify with their eligible distributed labels after acquisition costs, bankers and legal fees. Checks are expected to be sent as early as August.

Source: Sony, Orchard Share $750M Spotify Windfall With Indie Artists, Labels Regardless Of Recoupment

The Intellectual Property Office has published its latest corporate plans and strategies. In addition to improving services, the IPO wants to enhance the climate for rightsholders by making enforcement options, such as site blocking, both cheaper and easier. The IPO also wants to forge deals with Internet intermediaries while making piracy socially unacceptable to all.

Source: UK Govt Mulls Options to Make Anti-Piracy Enforcement Easier – TorrentFreak

The announcement will likely be strongly welcomed by the cryptocurrency community which has stood by the belief that most of its decentralized digital assets do not function liked securities of a company and accordingly should not be regulated like them.

Source: SEC official: Ether is not a security