January, 2018

Blockchain technology, powered by nodes of peer-to-peer computers around the world, is on the rise. So can we expect decentralized entertainment applications built on blockchain to replace streaming services like Netflix or Amazon and be the final death knell for Cable?

Source: How blockchain could kill both cable and Netflix

Instead of inserting into NAFTA “safe harbors” that were shaped over two decades ago, updates to NAFTA should strengthen accountability in the digital age.

Source: NAFTA shouldn’t include outdated internet safe harbors

A federal judge seemed inclined Thursday to rule that humans play a bigger role than technology in making animated films successful: a finding that could spell trouble for copyright lawsuits against Walt Disney and other major studios.

Source: Disney Defense in Animation Case Could Shield Studios From Copyright Claims

The Copyright Royalty Board has ruled to increase songwriter rates for interactive streaming by nearly 50% over the next five years, in a ruling issued early Saturday. Equally important, the CRB simplified and strengthened the manner in which songwriters are paid mechanical royalties, modifying terms in a way that offers a foothold in the free-market.

Source: Copyright Royalty Board Boosts Songwriters’ Streaming Pay Nearly 50%

Music licensing company Songtradr has raised $4m in a Series A funding round to support ongoing expansion. Santa Monica-based Songtradr directly represents the music of over 140,000 artists and catalogs from 150+ countries.

Source: Songtradr closes $4m funding round

Spotify is now set to go public on the New York Stock Exchange via an unconventional ‘direct listing’.  The move is highly anticipated and could have a monstrous impact on the entertainment, music and business worlds.  Now, investors are priming the pump — and making big claims to juice the public offering.

Source: Spotify Investor Says Streaming Will Quadruple by 2025 — Any Questions?

The ‘Music Modernization Act’ is being heralded as groundbreaking legislation. But indie songwriters and publishers feel like they’re getting the shaft.

Source: Indie Songwriters Feeling Left Out as the ‘Music Modernization Act’ Moves to the Senate

The Internet Association, the trade and lobbying group which represents Google, Amazon, Spotify, Facebook and several dozen other major internet companies, today sent a letter to the bipartisan Congressional sponsors of the Music Modernization Act (MMA) calling on them to advance the legislation.

Source: Google, Amazon, Spotify, Facebook, Other Major Net Players Endorse U.S. Music Modernization Act

In the latest sign that meaningful music copyright reform could be on the horizon, a Senate version of the Music Modernization Act is expected to be filed on Wednesday.

Source: Senate forges ahead on sweeping Music Modernization Act

To what degree should Internet services be shielded from liability for the copyright infringements of their users? With the NAFTA negotiations underway this has become a hot topic once again.

Source: NAFTA Negotiations Heat Up Copyright “Safe Harbor” Clash – TorrentFreak