1: Google Throws Down Gauntlet: No More Book Settlement Changes

First off today, Google has made a series of filings in the Google Book Search lawsuit defending the current settlement and saying that it will not revise it any further. The new settlement, which gives Google the right to scan, display and sell copies of in-copyright but out of print books, was adjusted previously after the Department of Justice filed objections over the proposed settlement. Google is now defending the agreement vigorously and seems to be digging in for a fight.

2: Dumb Labels, Laws (Not Google) To Blame for Music Blog Deletions

Next up today, we have several updates on “Musicblogocide 2010″, which saw Google shuttering several music blogs on its service due to repeat copyright complaints. Previously bloggers had said they could not file counter-notices because Google provided inadequate information for them to do so. But Google has issued a statement that it always provides a URL and that several bloggers have admitted that they simply didn’t respond for various reasons. It’s also come to light, as was expected, that the takedowns were the product of a bot that tracks MP3s on the Web.

3: Video Site Backed by Time Warner Inc., Eisner to File For Chapter 7

Finally today, we have to say goodbye to an old friend, Veoh. Today Veoh filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy and is ceasing operations. Veoh famously won its case against Universal Music Group, which had sued it for copyright infringement, claiming safe harbor did not protect the site. The ruling in that case is likely to have a bearing on the YouTube/Viacom case that is ongoing. This distraction, however, was cited as one of the reasons the company is going under. Goodbye Veoh!

Programming Note

On a persona note today, Fat Tuesday is this coming Tuesday and, as a New Orleanian, I probably won’t be in the office much Monday or Tuesday of next week. So please understand if there is no 3 Count for a couple of days. I will be back on Wednesday to record a new edition of the Copyright 2.0 Show and resume normal posting!

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.

It is Monday again and that means that it is time for another episode of the Copyright 2.0 Show.

It was a busy week for copyright news with a flurry of stories raining down. We see the conclusion to one of the most important DMCA-related cases as well as one of the most controversial plagiarism cases. However, we also have new beginnings, including the start of a potentially heated copyright battle in the technology world. We also have some interesting news about Second Life and perhaps the most awesome DRM/forum response in the history of gaming.

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

This week’s stories include:

• Veoh Wins Against Universal
• Skype Founders Sue eBay
• Coldplay and Satriani Settle
• More Bad News for the Potential Pirate Bay Buyers
• Batman Can Run, But He Can’t Glide
• 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

About the Hosts

Jonathan Bailey

Jonathan Bailey (@plagiarismtoday) is the Webmaster and author of Plagiarism Today (Hint: You’re there now) and works as a copyright and plagiarism consultant. Though not an attorney, he has resolved over 700 cases of plagiarism involving his own work and has helped countless others protect their work and develop strategies for making their content work as hard as possible toward their goals.

Patrick O’Keefe

Patrick O’Keefe (@iFroggy) is the owner of the iFroggy Network, a network of websites covering various interests. He’s the author of the book “Managing Online Forums,” a practical guide to managing online communities and social spaces. He maintains a blog about online community management at ManagingCommunities.com and a personal blog at patrickokeefe.com.

1: Veoh wins copyright suit, brightening YouTube’s future

First off today, video site Veoh has prevailed in its lawsuit against Universal, which had sued claiming the site was a haven for copyright infringement and was liable for damages.

However, the judge in the case ruled in favor of Veoh, ruling that the site had complied with the DMCA safe harbor regulations and was protected from liability due to it. This ruling could have a major impact on the YouTube/Viacom case, which is ongoing in a different circuit, as the facts are very similar (though court rulings are non-binding across districts).

Universal has vowed to appeal the case.

2: Cunning Copyright Catches Crooks

Next up today, did you pirate a copy of Arkham Asylum on your PC? If so, there’s a pretty good chance your copy is no longer as a copyright protection system in the game has rendered it virtually unplayable.

Though it doesn’t lock out pirates completely, the system disables the “glide” function in the game, making it impossible to get past certain points.

This new protection system was discovered after a player posted on Eidos’s forums, the makers of the game, about the “bug” only to be told that they had encountered a “hook” in the copyright protection system and that it was a “bug in their moral code”.

Gamers who want to want to play Arkham Asylum, complete with Glide function, on their PC will have to wait until next week when the game is released.

3: NYU Bobcat Logo is my Work, Freelance Artist Hisses in Copyright Lawsuit

Finally today, freelance artist and former New York University student Ariel Fleurimond is suing her alma mater for copyright infringement after, she says, a logo she drew was used without her permission as the new mascot.

According to Fleurimond, she was working as a clerk in the athletics department when she was asked to draw a new version of the mascot. After several tries she came up with one but was surprised when she found it plastered on the gymnasium floor sometime later.

NYU says that Fleurimond was compensated for her time through her job in the athletic department and calls the suit “baseless”. However, Fleurimond’s attorney says she was not paid to create logos, but rather, to “pick up dirty towels”.

The case will be an interesting study in work-for-hire law and definitely one to follow.

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.

1: AP alleges copyright infringement of Obama image

The famous and ubiquitous Obama “Hope” poster has become the subject of a lawsuit as the Associated Press, who claims to hold the copyright in the original photograph, has sued Shepard Fairey, the street artist behind the iconic poster.

The poster, which became a de facto symbol of the Obama campaign, was originally thought to be based upon a Reuters photo. Fairey is being represented by the Anthony Falzone, executive director of the Fair Use Project at Stanford University, who believes that fair use will protect Fairey’s right to use the image in the manner he did.

2: Judge Tells UMG: No, You Cannot Sue Veoh’s Investors For Copyright Infringement

Universal suffered another set back in its lawsuit against Veoh as the judge threw out a portion of the suit that named several investors in the site as defendants. The judge had already declined a motion for summary judgement, saying that “safe harbor” provisions in the DMCA applied to Veoh even though the site altered the videos before publishing them to the Web.

The judge found that, since Veoh has not been found guilty of doing anything infringing, Universal can not sue the investors. This is in contrast to the Napster case, where the investor was successfully sued after keeping the service open after it had been found to be infringing.

3: TorrentSpy renews legal campaign against MPAA

Nearly a year after it found itself on the wrong end of a $100 million judgment against the MPAA, Torrentspy has filed an appeal in the case claiming that they were unfairly denied access to a trial and were mandated to take actions that violated user privacy.

The site had defied a court order to turn over user data and various logs in part by blocking traffic from within the U.S. Torrentspy, which is now closed, has not indicated if they have any plans to reopen should they win their appeal.

Suggestions

That’s it for the three count today, we’ll 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 below or send me an email using the contact form above. 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.

All totaled, the show had sixteen stories, including the following:

• The NBC/Veoh Saga Continues
• Hulu Gets a C&D From Lulu
• The Pirate Bay Fires at the U.S.
• The Bible is Still Copyrighted
• A New, Experimental, Intro
• And Many more…

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

Show Notes

[audio:http://www.plagiarismtoday.com/audio/copyright20eps23.mp3]