Rights

Google is reportedly pursuing AI licensing deals with news publishers

According to Bloomberg, Google is reportedly preparing to launch a “pilot project initially with about 20 national news outlets,” where the participants would license their content for Google’s AI tools. There isn’t much detail beyond the initial report, but it sounds similar to the strategy that OpenAI has employed. Over the past few years, OpenAI has struck licensing deals with major publishers like Hearst, Condé Nast, Vox Media, The Atlantic, and News Corp.

Source: Google is reportedly pursuing AI licensing deals with news publishers

Orfium awarded EU grant to lead research into detection in AI-generated music

This technology could enable proper attribution and compensation for original songwriters, composers and rightsholders, Orfium said. The project comes as the Gen AI music and audiovisual content  is expected to grow to€64 billion in 2028 from the current €3 billion, according to data from CISAC.

Source: Orfium awarded EU grant to lead research project into copyright detection in AI-generated music

Concord closes $1.76 billion asset-backed securities transaction to ‘fuel continued growth’

According to a statement released on Tuesday (July 22), Concord is issuing $1.765 billion in bonds via a series of new five-year, seven-year, and ten-year senior notes. The bonds are backed by Concord’s catalog of over 1.3 million music copyrights. The latest bond issuance represents Concord’s fourth securitization offering and is claimed to be “the largest and longest tenured asset-backed term securitization of music rights to date”.

Source: Concord closes $1.76 billion asset-backed securities transaction to ‘fuel continued growth’

Senators Introduce Bill To Restrict AI Companies’ Use Of Copyrighted Works 

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced legislation on Monday that would restrict AI companies from using copyrighted material in their training models without the consent of the individual owner. The AI Accountability and Personal Data Protection Act also would allow individuals to sue companies that uses their personal data or copyrighted works without their “express, prior consent.”

Source: Senators Introduce Bill To Restrict AI Companies’ Unauthorized Use Of Copyrighted Works For Training Models

Judge Rules Class Action Suit Against Anthropic Can Proceed

In a major victory for authors, U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled July 17 that three writers suing Anthropic for copyright infringement can represent all other authors whose books the AI company allegedly pirated to train its AI model as part of a class action lawsuit. Alsup’s most recent ruling follows an amended complaint from the authors looking to certify classes of copyright owners in a “Pirated Books Class” and in a “Scanned Books Class.

Source: Judge Rules Class Action Suit Against Anthropic Can Proceed

Libraries Pay More for E-Books. Some States Want to Change That.

The issue is causing tension in the book community. Librarians complain that publishers charge so much to license e-books that it’s busting library budgets and frustrating efforts to provide equitable access to reading materials. Big publishers and many authors say that e-book library access undermines their already struggling business models. Smaller presses are split.

Source: Libraries Pay More for E-Books. Some States Want to Change That.

Not Just Verizon: Google Pauses Infringement Litigation Amid Supreme Court Look

Google requests a stay in a copyright infringement case brought by textbook publishers pending the Supreme Court’s decision in Cox v. Sony. A lawsuit filed against Google by several textbook publishers in 2024 accuses the tech giant of not doing enough to prevent piracy, and, in fact, profiting from it. Google saw a win when the publishers’ vicarious liability claim was dismissed, but a claim for contributory infringement is yet to be decided.

Source: Google Pauses Infringement Litigation Amid Supreme Court Look

Verizon Seeks Copyright Suit Stay Pending Supreme Court Ruling

Verizon is looking to pause its own copyright battle with the major record labels until the Supreme Court issues a related ruling. By now, many are familiar with the long-running showdown between the majors (which scored a massive verdict over Cox subscribers’ alleged repeat infringement) and Cox. Last month, the Supreme Court agreed to review the case, and the resulting precedent could have a far-reaching impact on music-space infringement litigation.

Source: Verizon Seeks Copyright Suit Stay Pending Supreme Court Ruling

Concord prepares to issue $1.75bn in bonds backed by 1 million music copyrights

The bond issuance is backed by the master recordings and compositions from artists such as Creed, R.E.M. and Phil Collins, American Banker reported, citing data from Kroll Bond Ratings Agency (KBRA). According to ratings agency Moody’s, the proceeds will be used to repay a bond issuance that Concord completed in 2022. At the time, it was described as “the largest asset-backed securitization offering of music rights in the industry to date.”

Source: Concord prepares to issue $1.75bn in bonds, in ABS transaction backed by 1 million music copyrights

Federal judge says voiceover artists AI lawsuit can move forward

A federal judge in New York has allowed a lawsuit to move forward from two voice-over artists alleging their voices were stolen by an AI voice startup. The judge dismissed artists Paul Skye Lehrman and Linnea Sage claims that their voices were subject to federal copyright. But claims from the artists of breach of contract and deceptive business practices, as well as separate copyright claims alleging that the voices were improperly used as part of the AI’s training data, will, however, move forward.

Source: Federal judge says voiceover artists AI lawsuit can move forward

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