Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) sent letters to the publishers, Penguin Random House, Hachette, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan, on Thursday asking for detailed responses about the contracts and any restrictions on deals made with libraries for e-book licensing.
Source: Wyden, Eshoo press publishers over library e-book contracts
Roblox unveiled its “Listening Party” feature via a formal release, noting early on that this “latest innovation” will afford artists and labels “a unique and creative way to engage and attract millions of fans and unlock new commercial opportunities in the metaverse.”
Source: Roblox Unveils ‘Listening Parties,’ Details Inaugural Event With Poppy
The academic community platform ResearchGate has removed 200,000 files in response to a wave of copyright complaints from publishers ACS and Elsevier. The takedowns go against ResearchGate’s open-access philosophy but, legally, it saw no other option than to comply.
Source: ResearchGate Removes 200,000 ‘Infringing’ Files After Takedown Tidal Wave * TorrentFreak
Amortized spending on movies and TV shows by Netflix will rise 26% to $13.6 billion in 2021 and will reach $18.92 billion by 2025, according to predictions published Thursday by S&P Global Market Intelligence’s Kagan media research division. Of that $13.6 billion in amortized spending, $5.21 billion is earmarked for original productions, Kagan said.
Source: Netflix Content Spending Predicted to Rise 26% in 2021
Last month, the administrator of Ditko’s estate filed a notice of termination on Spider Man, which first appeared in comic book form in 1962. Under the termination provisions of copyright law, authors or their heirs can reclaim rights once granted to publishers after waiting a statutory set period of time. According to the termination notice, Marvel would have to give up Ditko’s rights to its iconic character in June 2023.
Source: Marvel Suing to Keep Rights to ‘Avengers’ Characters From Copyright Termination
Netherlands-based Pythagoras Music Fund (PMF), which MBW has confirmed is worth €100 million ($117m), has just acquired 100% of the shares in Dutch music companies Nanada Music and Red Bullet from Dutch music industry legend Willem van Kooten. Nanada and Red Bullet are home to artists including Shocking Blue, Golden Earring and Focus.
Source: $117m fund launches in Europe to buy catalogs of local legends
For musicians who earn money from their music, 40% said that their overall income has increased since 2015, 32% said that it had decreased, and 28% said that it had stayed the same. Note the ‘overall’ word there: one of the report’s other findings is that for many musicians, recorded music is only a ‘small proportion’ of their earnings.
Source: UK research on music creators’ digital earnings is out today – Music Ally
Yet another non-fungible token (NFT) project has been signed by a major Hollywood talent agency to translate the crypto collectibles into more traditional entertainment formats. After Cryptopunks was signed by UTA in August, CAA has now pacted with an NFT venture called Jenkins The Valet for representation across books, film, TV, podcasts, and more.
The deal means the streaming giant will own creations like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The BFG. Netflix will control what happens to them in publishing as well as TV and film – and receive the royalties. It will also create numerous spin-off games, stage shows and other live experiences. Neither side would reveal how much the deal is worth.
Source: Netflix lands golden ticket by buying Roald Dahl estate
It’s been a long time coming, but the U.K. Government’s response to the recent report into the economics of music streaming has finally arrived. However, anyone hoping for a neat conclusion to the fierce debate that has pitted labels against artists and songwriters will be disappointed.
Source: U.K. Government Calls for Further Research Into Music Streaming Sector; Keeps Options Open