European Union negotiators agreed Wednesday on codified language in a new set of sweeping copyright-reform rules — including a provision that would mandate YouTube and other internet platforms block copyrighted material when it’s uploaded. YouTube in particular has been particularly vigorous in opposing the proposed changes to the laws.
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RIAA Appeals Dismissal of Major Labels’ Case Against Russian Stream-Ripper
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is now appealing the decision to dismiss the case against defendant Tofig Kurbanov. “The court got it wrong,” says RIAA spokesperson Cara Duckworth. “Its decision represents a big step backward in the protection of American culture and the creators that fuel it. We look forward to laying out our arguments in the weeks ahead.”
Source: RIAA Appeals Dismissal of Major Labels’ Case Against Russian Stream-Ripper
In win for tech giants, EU copyright reforms stalled
EU efforts to reform copyright rules hit a roadblock on Monday as a meeting of lawmakers and officials was called off, prompting criticism of Google from publishers after it and other tech giants lobbied against the changes. European Parliament lawmakers, representatives from EU countries and Commission officials were scheduled to meet on Monday to reconcile their positions on the topic.
Source: In win for tech giants, EU copyright reforms stalled
Rightsholders Call for Suspension of Article 13
A group of prominent representatives of the audiovisual and sports sectors, including the MPA and the Premier League, are calling for a suspension of the current Article 13 negotiations. The companies suggest that a case currently before the EU Court of Justice may give them a ‘better deal’ than the copyright reform proposal.
Source: Rightsholders Call for Suspension of Article 13 – TorrentFreak
Dead musicians are touring again, as holograms.
With the technology reaching a tipping point, several companies are clamouring — sometimes by way of the courts — to create a hologram performance that can be as engaging as a human one. In the process, they hope to unlock vast amounts of money in the back catalogues of the 20th Century’s biggest artists.
Source: Dead musicians are touring again, as holograms. It’s tricky — technologically and legally
In the Race for Content, Hollywood Is Buying Up Hit Podcasts
Executives at Netflix, Amazon and Apple are spending wildly for content, which has created a sense of urgency among their rivals at broadcast networks and cable channels. And like their midcentury predecessors, they have been aggressive about buying up ready-made programming to fill their expanding slates. These days, that means podcasts.
Source: In the Race for Content, Hollywood Is Buying Up Hit Podcasts
U.S. Copyright Office Begins Process to Create Mechanical Licensing Collective
The United States Copyright Office has formally kicked off the process to establish the MMA’s Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) by putting out a request for information to help inform its choice for designating both the members of the MLC and Digital Licensee Coordinator (DLC). In doing so, it is giving interested parties until March 21, 2019 to submit written proposals, and until April 22 for the public to comment on those submissions and related issues.
Source: U.S. Copyright Office Begins Process to Create Music Modernization Act’s Licensing Collective
EU failing to fix copyright directive: lawyers comment on leak
The directive is currently going through the ‘trilogues’, where member states’ governments can negotiate with the EU in an effort to produce a final version of the law before the final draft is presented to European Parliament for a vote. But the leaked document, which contains proposed revisions to article 13, has failed to impress practitioners.
Source: EU failing to fix copyright directive: lawyers comment on leak
How EU Copyright Directive Could Disrupt Transatlantic Digital Trade
There’s no question that the proposed link tax seeks to insulate European publishers from the disruptive impact of the U.S. technology sector. Indeed, in a recent proceeding before the U.S. Trade Representative, a news publisher representative even acknowledged the proposal aimed to provide a “higher level of protection for news publishers in the European Union,” despite insisting that the new regulations “were not trade barriers.”
Source: Sticking Points in Transatlantic Digital Trade, Part II
RightsTech Returns to DEW
The RightsTech Project will host a full, two-day track of panels, keynotes, and presentations again this year at the Digital Entertainment World expo in Los Angeles on February 4-5 at the Marina Del Rey Marriott.
As always, RightsTech will bring together our unique mix of creators, entrepreneurs, technology developers, and rights owners from all sectors of the media world to discuss and debate technology-enabled solutions to the common challenges of managing and monetizing rights in the digital era.
Topics on the agenda for this year include:
- The Future of Rights and Royalties
- What’s Next for the Music Modernization Act?
- Tools for DIY Artists
- Blockchain Goes to the Movies
- Managing Rights at Enterprise Scale
- Metadata Standards and Management
- Bringing Transparency to Royalties and Residuals
- … and more
RightsTech@DEW kicks off an expanded slate of conferences for 2019, which will also include the first RightsTech: Europe conference in Frankfurt, Germany April 9-10, and the annual fall RightsTech Summit in New York.
Click here for information on how to register for Digital Entertainment World.
For speaking and sponsorship opportunities contact Paul Sweeting at paul@concurrentmedia.com.
For general inquiries regarding DEW, or information on other conference tracks, contact Tinzar Sherman at tinzar@digitalmediawire.com.