In a January 14 filing, the Maryland Attorney General asked a federal judge to dismiss the AAP’s claim that the state’s recently enacted library e-book law law is preempted by the federal Copyright Act. “This case is not about copyright protection,” the AG argues, “it is about the unfair and discriminatory trade practices of publishers at the expense of public libraries.”
Source: Maryland Defends Its Library E-book Law, Seeks Dismissal of AAP Lawsuit
Source: Booming NFT art market plagued by ‘mind-blowing’ fraud
Hot on the heels of the David Bowie estate’s $250 million-plus deal with Warner Chappell Music publishing, Peloton has announced that it struck a deal for the artist’s entire catalog as well as various remixes for its cycling, strength, yoga and running classes, beginning Wednesday.
Source: Peloton Launches David Bowie Collection, With Full Catalog, Remixes
Independent label agency Merlin has inked a multi-year deal with UK-born Lickd, a platform that lets video creators legally use copyrighted music and audio in their videos. The deal comes four months after Lickd secured £5.1 million (approximately $7m) in new funding, which included investment from both Warner Music Group (WMG) and Epic Games, creator of Fortnite.
Source: Merlin inks multi-year deal with music licensing platform Lickd
One of the more controversial trends to gain traction on Twitch lately is the wholesale streaming of copyrighted TV shows by some of the site’s top streamers. Bizarrely they appear to have understood the consequences in advance and some are currently sitting out suspensions. So why bite the hand that feeds?
Source: Twitch Streamers Deliberately Get Themselves Banned For Copyright Infringement * TorrentFreak
American radio stations are officially considering a conditional settlement offer between the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC) and Irving Azoff’s Global Music Rights (GMR) performance rights organization, which have engaged in a high-profile legal battle for over half a decade. The conditional settlement offer just recently came to light in a notice that was forwarded to member broadcasters.
Source: American Radio Stations Weigh Settlement Offer From Irving Azoff’s GMR
Aja Trier, a painter in San Antonio, often riffs on Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” adding dogs or dinosaurs to it, or reimagining it as a desert landscape or Mordor from “Lord of the Rings.” She sells versions on mugs and mouse pads and pillows. But thanks to the explosion of the NFT art market, thieves have started stealing her work at a jaw-dropping rate.
Source: Artists say NFTs are helping thieves steal their work at a jaw-dropping rate
Apple is paying a reported $225 million to director Joe Kosinksi to acquire a Formula 1-themed racing movie starring Brad Pitt. According to former Hollywood Reporter top editor Matt Beloni, who now publishes the inside-Hollywood Substack newsletter Puck, the pricey deal includes a $40 million fee for Pitt to produce and star in the film. The agreement also calls for an exclusive theatrical window.
Source: Apple Pays Reported $225 Million for Brad Pitt Formula 1 Movie, Keeps It Out of Netflix’s Hands
China’s copyright authority said on Thursday digital music platforms are not allowed to sign exclusive copyright agreements except in special circumstances, amid a regulatory crackdown on monopolistic behavior in the country’s private sector. The order comes amid a widening crackdown by Chinese regulators on the country’s technology sector, which has focused on issues such as monopolistic behavior, unfair competition and consumer rights.
Source: China bans most exclusive copyright deals for digital music platforms
Library advocates in New York say that are discussing next steps with the bill’s sponsors, while ALA issued a statement pledging that library groups, library advocates, and friends of libraries will not cease our efforts to ensure fair pricing. The New York bill would have required “publishers who offer to license e-books to the public” to also offer to license those e-books to libraries on “reasonable” terms.
Source: Library Advocates Consider Next Steps after Veto of New York Library E-book Law