3 Count: Getting Clearance

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1: Hargreaves to Push for Online ‘Rights’ Exchange

First off today, in a report to be made public Wednesday, the UK government is to consider the possibility creating a rights exchange body that would centralize the granting of rights to businesses for music, movies and other creative works. The report, created by Professor Ian Hargreaves at the request of the government, says that entrance into the exchange would be voluntary but that the government should create a “tsar” position to oversee the exchange and encourage participation.

2: Shedding Light on Copyright Confusion

In addition to the proposed rights exchange, Hargreaves’ report is also re-raise the issue of orphan works in the country. Orphan works are works for which the copyright holder is unknown and, thus, rights can not be cleared for reuse. According to reports, Hargreaves’ report will suggest setting up a central agency to receive royalties for orphan works rightsholders and dole those royalties out should the rightsholder come forward. Orphan works was an issue raised in the recent Digital Economy Act but was scrapped as the act neared passage.

3: Netflix, Miramax Finally Sign Streaming Deal

Finally today, also on the topic of securing rights, the movie studio Mirimax has signed a deal with Netflix to make many of its most popular movies available on Netflix’s “Watch Instantly” streaming service. The movies include “Pulp Fiction”, “Shakespeare in Love” and “Good WIll Hunting” among “several hundred” other films from the company’s catalog. Other Mirimax films will also be available on a rotating basis. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Suggestions

That’s it for the three count today. We will be back tomorrow with three more copyright links. If you have a link that you want to suggest a link for the column or have any proposals to make it better. Feel free to leave a comment or send me an email. I hope to hear from you.

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Tune in every Wednesday evening at 6 PM ET for the live recording of the Copyright 2.0 Show or wait and get the edited version Friday right here on Plagiarism Today.

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