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
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
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
The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) and Amazon-owned livestreaming platform Twitch have announced an agreement, which, in a statement they explain will see them “work together to build productive partnerships between the service and music publishers”.
Twitch and the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) are close to signing a music licensing agreement, multiple sources tell Billboard, potentially ending an arduous, year-long stalemate between the livestreaming platform and publishing organization.
Hipgnosis CEO Merck Mercuriadis, whose fund invests in publishing rights and would benefit from higher payouts, says he already has hundreds of songwriters on board for a guild he’s planning similar to Hollywood’s Writers Guild of America. “There’s no secret the songwriter is the worst-paid person in the equation,” says Mercuriadis. “No negotiation should ever take place that affects how a songwriter is paid that doesn’t have the songwriter represented in the negotiation.”
Source: Songwriters Organize New Guild to Take Bigger Piece of Streaming Pie
Nine-year-old Merlin and 14-year-old JioSaavn just recently unveiled their broadened licensing agreement. The newly finalized pact “marks the first renewal between the two parties since regional music streaming service Saavn merged with India’s JioMusic” back in 2018, at which point the Jio Platforms subsidiary adopted its current name.
Source: Merlin and JioSaavn Finalize ‘Enhanced’ Licensing Agreement
A SoundCloud representative said in a statement that “full aggregation of market-live payout data is pending over the coming months,” as the company is in the midst of launching its system. “The model is tracking as expected and the Portishead stat is a strong confirmation of the model’s design—fan engagement is driving meaningful revenue.”
Source: SoundCloud Says Portishead Song Earned 500% More Under New Royalty Plan