The ISNI International Agency, which provides tools to identify millions of contributors of creative works and those active in their distribution, has announced that Bowker, the ISBN services company, has rejoined the community as an ISNI Registration Agency. Bowker’s re-engagement also coincides with the Book Industry Study Group’s efforts to establish a nationwide ISNI workflow in the United States.
Who Owns AI Output? Why Recent Cases Against OpenAI Could Redefine Copyright
Christopher T. Zirpoli, legislative attorney at the U.S. Congressional Research Service suggests that while AI users might be considered the authors of specific outputs, the creative process behind coding and training AI gives its creators a stronger claim to authorship than a traditional toolmaker. The creative choices involved in coding and training the AI “might give an AI’s creator a stronger claim to some form of authorship than the manufacturer of a camera.”
Source: Who Owns AI Output? Why Recent Cases Against OpenAI Could Redefine Copyright
Bookshop.org challenges Amazon with new e-book platform
Bookshop.org and Libro.fm have emerged as alternatives to Amazon, sharing a cut of sales with independent bookstores around America. But for e-book readers, it’s been challenging to buy new titles without going through Amazon’s ecosystem. Bookshop.org’s expansion into e-books gives consumers a long-awaited option to buy these digital books while also supporting small businesses.
Source: Bookshop.org challenges Amazon with new e-book platform | TechCrunch
Digital Checkouts Rose 17% at OverDrive
Digital borrowing of e-books, audiobooks, and digital magazines rose to more than 739 million checkouts at the libraries and schools who use OverDrive’s Libby and Sora apps. Some 366.2 million e-books were borrowed last year, the most of any format, but the rate of increase, 7%, was the slowest among all formats. Downloads of digital audiobook rose 19%, to 278.3 million checkouts.
Copyright Office: Use of AI Tools in Creative Process Does Not Undermine Copryight
The U.S. Copyright Office declared Wednesday that the use of artificial intelligence tools to assist in the creative process does not undermine the copyright of a work. In a 41-page report, the Copyright Office also reiterated that human authorship is essential to copyright, and that merely entering text prompts into an AI system is not enough to claim authorship of the resulting output.
Source: Copyright Office Offers Assurances on AI Filmmaking Tools
UK’s House of Lords votes to strengthen copyright protections in AI, dealing blow to government’s plans
The House of Lords voted 145 to 126 in favor of amendments to a bill in a bid to strengthen copyright protections in AI development. The development came just weeks after Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government received a report proposing a sweeping national AI strategy. The reforms were championed by digital rights campaigner and crossbench (independent) peer Baroness Kidron, and backed by the Creative Rights In AI Coalition.
Spotify Beats MLC Audiobook Lawsuit After Judge Calls Royalty Rules ‘Unambiguous’
In her decision on Wednesday, Judge Analisa Torres said that federal royalty rate rules clearly allowed Spotify to legally claim the lower rate, rejecting MLC’s argument that the company was not actually offering a “bundle” of services. “Audiobook streaming is a product or service that is distinct from music streaming and has more than token value,” the judge wrote, alluding to the specific wording of the federal rule. “Premium is, therefore, properly categorized as a Bundle.”
Source: Spotify Beats MLC Audiobook Lawsuit After Judge Calls Federal Royalty Rules ‘Unambiguous’
In the wake of new Spotify deal, Universal Music adds $3.4 billion to its market cap
Off the back of yesterday’s Spotify/UMG pact announcement, today (January 27), Universal Music Group’s share price on the Amsterdam Euronext has risen by a whopping 7.35% vs. the stock’s closing price on Friday. This jump has had a significant impact on UMG’s public valuation. According to MBW’s calculations, at the close of Friday, UMG had a public market cap of approximately EUR €44.30 billion, or around USD $46.47 billion at current exchange rates.
Spotify Paid Out $10 Billion to the Music Industry in 2024; $1 Billion More Than 2023
Spotify paid out $10 billion to the music industry in 2024 — some $1 billion more than last year, the previous record — making its total around $60 billion since it was founded in 2006. The company made the announcement in a blog post Tuesday morning. The news comes two days after Spotify reached a new deal with Universal Music that sees more-favorable royalty payments to musicians from the service’s audiobooks-music “bundle” announced last year.
Usage of copyright content: Digital news publishers join legal battle against OpenAI
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group of digital news publishers in India have filed an intervention in the Delhi High Court, joining an ongoing proceeding against OpenAI for improperly using copyright content. The intervention was filed by the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA), along with some of its members, which include The Indian Express, Hindustan Times and NDTV.
Source: Usage of copyright content: Digital news publishers join legal battle against OpenAI