Rights

NMPA Sends ‘Formal Notices’ to Google and Apple Amid App Crackdown

The effort to curb the allegedly unauthorized use of music in apps – and to prompt action from Google and Apple – came to light yesterday, in a speech delivered by National Music Publishers’ Association president and CEO David Israelite. Speaking at the NMPA’s annual meeting in New York, Israelite highlighted songwriter and publisher revenue in the U.S. in 2021, touched upon his organization’s “legal recoveries,” and reiterated the deals that were struck last year with Twitch and Roblox after much-publicized confrontations.

Source: NMPA Sends ‘Formal Notices’ to Google and Apple Amid App Crackdown

AFL-CIO Passes Resolution Supporting American Music Fairness Act

The AFL-CIO highlights how huge media corporations are acquiring radio stations left and right across the United States. “With these big corporate broadcast companies gobble up billions upon billions in advertising dollars, the union vocalists and musicians, including session and background performers, whose work make all of it possible receive no compensation whatsoever.”

Source: AFL-CIO Passes Resolution Supporting American Music Fairness Act

SoundExchange Launching Global Publisher Services Admin & Licensing Division

Royalty collecting organization SoundExchange is launching an integrated global publisher services administration and licensing division, the company announced Tuesday (June 14). Called SX Works Global Publisher Services (or SX Works, for short), the project will focus on launching solutions for the international music publisher and self-published songwriter communities.

Source: SoundExchange Launching Global Publisher Services Admin & Licensing Division

In Final Order, Court Declares Maryland’s Library E-book Law Unconstitutional

The final order declares Maryland’s groundbreaking, controversial library e-book law preempted by the Federal Copyright Act and blocks its enforcement, all but ending a months-long lawsuit filed by the Association of American Publishers. The final order in the case comes after Boardman issued a preliminary injunction blocking the law, and after Maryland state attorneys declined to appeal Boardman’s February 16 decision

Source: In Final Order, Court Declares Maryland’s Library E-book Law Unconstitutional

Washington Post & Imagine Entertainment Form Partnership To Create Scripted & Non-Scripted Projects

The Washington Post and Imagine Entertainment have entered into a strategic partnership to create scripted and non-scripted film and television properties culled from The Post’s vast archives, current reporting, and ongoing investigations. The multi-year deal gives Imagine an exclusive first-look to develop and produce all projects through the venture.

Source: Washington Post & Imagine Entertainment Form Partnership To Create Scripted & Non-Scripted Projects

The U.S. ‘Small’ Copyright Claims Board Goes Live This Week 

The US “Copyright Claims Board” starts accepting its first claims this week. The tribunal, which is part of the Copyright Office, allows parties to resolve “small” copyright disputes relatively cheaply outside of the federal court system. Damages available under these claims are capped at $30,000 and the entire process takes place online, without the need to hire an attorney.

Source: The U.S. ‘Small’ Copyright Claims Board Goes Live this Week * TorrentFreak

Internet Archive, Publishers to Seek Summary Judgment in Book Scanning Lawsuit

A federal court in New York has ordered motions for summary judgment by early summer in a lawsuit filed by four major publishers against the Internet Archive over its scanning and lending of print library books, putting the fate of the closely watched copyright case on track to be in the court’s hands by early fall.

Source: Internet Archive, Publishers to Seek Summary Judgment in Book Scanning Lawsuit

Universal inks strategic global partnership with music licensing tech startup Songclip

Songclip, which claims to be the world’s only patented music clip company, has struck a multi-year global strategic partnership with Universal Music Group (UMG) and Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG). Songclip offers a patented music licensing and integration tool for dating apps, gaming apps, messaging apps, social platforms, and more.

Source: Universal inks strategic global partnership with music licensing tech startup Songclip

Real Regulation of NFT Art and Commerce in the Metaverse

Emerging technologies like non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have inspired new and very lucrative methods of creating and selling art within the metaverse. But the legalities of this form of trade remain in flux. A person’s legal relationship to the file associated with the NFT is commonly undefined and unregulated. IP law will have to step in eventually.

Source: Real Regulation of NFT Art and Commerce in the Metaverse

Get the latest RightsTech news and analysis delivered directly in your inbox every week
We respect your privacy.