February, 2019

Linius Technologies, a cloud-based solution that transforms static video into hyper-personalized video experiences with its world-first Video Virtualization Engine (VVE) – announced it has validated its previously announced blockchain strategy by successfully testing its blockchain technology. Linius has successfully validated this capability; that virtual video may be embedded in a blockchain, and smart contracts used to control the transactions associated with video files.

Source: Linius successfully tests world’s first virtual-video blockchain

Scribd has filed a complaint targeting a tool that allows users to permanently download books, audiobooks, magazines, and other digital content from its publishing platform. Scribd Downloader does require the user to have a Scribd subscription to operate fully, but the company says the tool breaches the anti-circumvention provisions of the DMCA.

Source: Scribd Files Complaint Against DRM Circumvention Tool – TorrentFreak

OpenStax, a nonprofit based at Rice University that publishes free textbooks, reports that more than two million students at U.S. colleges used at least one of its textbooks during the 2017-2018 school year. The nonprofit also estimates that students saved $177 million using the free textbooks in the 2017-2018 year.

Source: 2.2M Students Used OpenStax Free Textbooks in 2018

Radio lobbyists and a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers in Washington D.C. are backing the latest iteration of the Local Radio Freedom Act, which would limit royalties radio stations have to pay on recordings. With the 116th U.S. Congress now in session since early last month, this marks just the latest biennial attempt at passing this legislation after similar bills failed in 2017 and 2015.

Source: Radio Royalty Bill Introduced in Congress (Again) Arguing Stations Should Not Have to Pay Artists & Labels

Canadian collecting society SOCAN has announced another year of record collections and distributions, which it says was buoyed by “a rising tide of Canadian music success around the world.” The society’s revenues grew by 11% to at least $374m, while its distributions to members grew from $295m in 2017 to $315m last year. “Royalties from non-Canadian sources are the #1 revenue stream for SOCAN members, reflecting the incredible strength of Canadian talent and SOCAN’s repertoire, a 70% five-year increase,” noted the PRO.

Source: SOCAN collected and paid out record royalties in 2018

Last week it was reported in the press that an organization planning to apply to be designated as the MLC prematurely suggested that the competition among entities to become the MLC is all but over. This suggestion was made despite the Register of Copyright making no such statement and still awaiting receipt of complete applications, which are not due until mid-March. If the suggestion is true, the selection process would at best not have been made — and, at worst, been compromised.

Source: American Music Licensing Collective Says ‘Competition Is Needed’ In Forming Music Modernization Act’s MLC (Guest Op-Ed)

The latest startup offering AI-created music is Ecrett Music, and it’s comparable to Jukedeck in its desire to create backing tracks for videos. The startup has launched its tool for video-creators to choose a category (e.g. workout, travel, cooking), mood (happy, chill, sad etc) and length, then have a soundtrack whipped up for whatever video footage they have uploaded.

Source: Ecrett Music launches AI-music tool for video soundtracks

An Australian video tech firm has successfully tested a blockchain trial that could end up being a welcome relief for video creators and the fight against video piracy. Linius applied video virtualisation technology and smart contracts to control and transact video as a digital asset within the blockchain itself.

Source: How blockchain could help stop video piracy in its tracks

The upgrade to the platform’s SoundCloud Premier monetization toolset allows users to “seamlessly” distribute their music to the likes of Amazon Music, Apple Music, Instagram, Spotify, Tencent, YouTube Music and more – all from within their SoundCloud account. Subscribers to either of SoundCloud’s upload offerings (SoundCloud Pro and Pro Unlimited) can gain access to SoundCloud Premier at no extra cost.

Source: SoundCloud is now a distributor: Platform launches tool for users to upload music to Spotify, Apple Music etc.