1: Google, Twitter go to bat for Theflyonthewall

First off today, financial news site Theflyonthewall is getting some help in its case against Merrill Lynch, which sued the company successfully for writing about information in Marrill Lynch’s research reports. The judge in the case found the Theflyonthewall violated Lynch’s “hot news” rights. Hot news is an early 1900s doctrine that provides limited copyright-style protection to news and facts gathered at expense, in this case forcing Theflyonthewall to delay reporting on Lynch’s research. The case is currently on appeal and Google and Twitter have both filed briefs in the case, calling “hot news” outdated and saying it is not in line with the current news ecosystem.

2: Google Targeted For Linking To Infringing Songs

Next up today, in another story involving Google, the search giant has been targeted for a takedown notice by the BPI. the British equivalent to the RIAA. But while that isn’t altogether unusual, what is strange is that they are demanding removal of several different songs across a variety of digital locker sites and indicating that the root URL of these sites was infringing as well. This has led many to hypothesize that BPI may be putting Google on notice before preparing a lawsuit over Google’s linking to these sources. While this may or may not be true, this comes as Britain is dealing with the Digital Economy Act, which asks ISPs and search engines to do more to stop copyright infringement.

3: ASCAP Files 21 Copyright Suits Against Bars and Clubs

Finally today, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers filed suit on Monday against 21 bars and clubs across the country for performing songs in their catalog without a license. ASCAP, which collects royalties for song writers, has a licensing system for bars and clubs which wish to have performers sing songs in their catalog. Locations that don’t license the content and continue to present such music run the risk of being sued by ASCAP.

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.

Want the Full Story?

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.

1: No Decrease in Illegal Downloading, says BPI

First off today, A survey conducted for the British Phonographic Industry reports that, in the UK, illegal file sharing is on the rise, even as more legal downloading alternatives come online.

The survey found that, while file sharing on peer-to-peer services, such as Bittorrent, remained flat, illegal downloading on Web-based services, such as storage lockers, rose. According to the BPI, there is over one billion illegal downloads every year, compared to about 117 million single sales.

The BPI hopes to use this study to push for improvements to the Digital Britain legislation to help it focus more on Web-based technologies, rather than just peer-to-peer ones.

The survey involved polling some 3,000 people between 16 and 54 and found that those who were using illegal downloading services had no plans to switch to legal alternatives and, in fact, had plans to increase their illegal downloading.

2: DRM Fiasco Ruins James Cameron’s Avatar 3D Preview

Next up today, James Cameron’s new movie Avatar has been setting the box office on fire this weekend but an issue with the film’s DRM hampered an early screening of it late last week.

Attendees of a pre-release 3D showing of the film were saddened to learn that the DRM scheme designed to prevent the film from being leaked onto the Web failed to allow the theater to play it as planned. The system, which involves multiple layers including security certificates and timelocks, could not be accessed despite hours of trying.

The problems, however, were fixed in time for the public premiere of the film, which was Friday in the U.S., but there is no doubt that the debacle left many with a sour taste.

3: MediaCorp Wins Counter Claims of Copyright Infringement Against RecordTV

Finally today, MediaCorp, which a state-owned media organization in Singapore, has emerged victorious in a lawsuit against another Singapore company, RecordTV.

RecordTV, previously, allowed users to, as the name might indicate, record TV from their computer using their Web browser for later playback, functioning as something of a DVR. Among the channels users could record included three of MediaCorp’s channels, which prompted legal threats from the media giant.

RecordTV responded to those threats by filing a preemptive suit, which in turn led to MediaCorp filing a countersuit. The case made it all the way to Singapore’s Supreme Court, where the judge has ruled in favor of MediaCorp, granting the company an injunction against RecrodTV, which in turn appears to have shut down its service.

There is no word on any other damages and the justification for the ruling is due shortly.

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.

Want the Full Story?

Tune in every Saturday morning for the live recording of the Copyright 2.0 Show or wait and get the edited version Monday morning right here on Plagiarism Today.

Chris makes it two in a row as he comes back to help me make through the week’s worth of copyright news and abuse including, the Canadian DMCA makes a return, RIAA running from the “making available” and a UK ISP sending out warning letters.

We also have updates to many ongoing copyright stories including the Redlasso story, Metallica’s ongoing drama, a look at the “Nays” for PRO-IP, the Promo CD Case and much more.

All in all, there were sixteen stories this week including news from all over the copyright world including our “Weird Story of the Week”.

This week’s stories include:

• The Canadian DMCA Comes Back
• UK ISP Helps the Record Industry
• Fair Use and Selling Promotional CDs
• The RIAA Runs Away
• Police Get Busted By Copyright Copys
• And Many more…

You can download the MP3 file here (direct download). Those interested in subscribing to the show can do so via this feed.

Show Notes

[audio:http://media.libsyn.com/media/plagiarismtoday/copyright20eps63.mp3]