Rights

Disney and Universal Sue A.I. Firm Midjourney for Copyright Infringement

Disney and Universal sued a prominent artificial intelligence start-up for copyright infringement on Wednesday, bringing Hollywood belatedly into the increasingly intense legal battle over generative A.I. The movie companies sued Midjourney, an A.I. image generator that has millions of registered users. The 110-page lawsuit contends that Midjourney “helped itself to countless” copyrighted works to train its software.

Source: Disney and Universal Sue A.I. Firm Midjourney for Copyright Infringement

Academic Publishers Sign AI Deals as Trump Cuts Research Funding

Academic publishers are rushing to sign licensing deals with artificial intelligence companies, carving out a new revenue stream as US research funding cuts dim their outlook. Taylor & Francis signed a $10 million deal with Microsoft Corp. last year. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc is looking to “monetize academic content through AI deals,” it said in its latest set of results, and John Wiley & Sons Inc. announced partnerships with Amazon Web Services and Perplexity earlier this year.

Source: Academic Publishers Sign AI Deals as Trump Cuts Research Funding

Anthem Music Publishing Acquires Song Catalog of Marty Robbins

Anthem Music Publishing has acquired the catalog of songs from legendary Country-Western singer-songwriter Marty Robbins. The catalog represents a cornerstone of American music history, marking a powerful addition to Anthem’s growing collection of culturally significant works. “Marty Robbins is a towering figure in American music—an artist whose storytelling transcended genre and era,” said Jason Klein, CEO of Anthem Music Group.

Source: Anthem Music Publishing Acquires Song Catalog of Marty Robbins

Sony acquires company formerly known as Big Deal Music from Recognition

Sony Music Publishing has acquired Hipgnosis Songs Group LLC, previously known as Big Deal Music, from Blackstone’s Recognition Music Group, sources involved in the deal have confirmed. Big Deal Music was acquired by Hipgnosis Songs Fund in September 2020. As well as bringing 4,400 copyrights into Hipgnosis, that deal included the company’s US publishing admin business, Words & Music.

Source: Sony acquires company formerly known as Big Deal Music from Recognition

BISG Unveils New Rights Tool

The Book Industry Study Group has announced the launch of Find a Rightsholder, a searchable database with information on how to reach rights and permissions contacts for more than 3,500 imprints. Unlike title management tools that seek to facilitate dealmaking and take a cut of any transaction, Find a Rightsholder is focused solely on helping the publishing community locate relevant contacts for U.S. and U.K. publishers.

Source: BISG Unveils New Rights Tool

Indie Songwriters Bristling Over Major Label AI Negotiations

Independent songwriters and composers have heard this song before; Bloomberg reports that major multi-national record labels are engaged in closed-door meetings with yet another group of tech companies over AI negotiations and copyright infringement liability. Unsurprisingly, independent music creators may as well be invisible in these discussions.

Source: Indie Songwriters Bristling Over Major Label AI Negotiations

Google ‘handling stolen goods’ with Youtube theft of paywalled news articles

Youtube channels are using AI to steal words and photographs from paywalled news content and reproduce articles wholesale without the consent of publishers. The practice has been highlighted by freelance journalist Rob McGibbon after a first-person account of his estrangement from his late father written for the Daily Mail was lifted wholesale and reproduced by the Youtube Channel: “The World News.”

Source: Google ‘handling stolen goods’ with Youtube theft of paywalled news articles

Music industry veteran Tony Latham launches Royalty Access Studio

Tony Latham, a music industry veteran, has founded Royalty Access Studio (RAS), a platform to provide advances against future royalty payments to artists and songwriters worldwide. Latham’s new project promises “transparent and ethical alternative to traditional royalty financing, with a streamlined application process, no credit checks, and straightforward documentation.”

Source: Music industry veteran Tony Latham launches Royalty Access Studio, with plans to deploy $20m in artist financing over next 12 months

AM Radio Mandate is Moving in Congress

A broad array of leading automakers and technology companies have sent a letter to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, asking them to advance the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA). The legislation will require big radio companies that made $13.6 billion in advertising revenue last year to pay the artists whose music they currently play for free.

Source: AM Radio Mandate is Moving in Congress

“NATO for News”: Is a Joint Effort by Media Companies the Way to Go in the Age of AI?

The impact of artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI, on the media and entertainment industries was a topic of debate at the Media & Telecoms 2025 & Beyond Conference in London on Tuesday. And some industry executives suggested that an alliance of media players could be the best strategy to protect copyright and open up opportunities for media companies in the AI age.

Source: “NATO for News”: Is a Joint Effort by Media Companies the Way to Go in the Age of AI?

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