3 Count: Cowboys and Sharks

This is daily column on Plagiarism Today where the site brings you three of the days biggest, most important copyright and plagiarism news links. If you want to offer your feedback on the column, use the contact form or just follow me on Twitter at @plagiarismtoday.

1: No network management amendment in final stimulus package

It’s good news for those who were worried that the stimulus package would slip in a “network management” clause that would require ISPs to detect and filter certain kinds of content on their networks. The language, which was introduced first by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) did not survive into the final bill.

Needless to say, net neutrality advocates are breathing a sigh of relief, as are privacy and free speech advocates as well.

2: Artists flout copyright law to attack Damien Hirst

Artists, outraged by Damien Hirst’s threatening of a 16-year-old designer, have pulled together a collection of works inspired by Hirst’s famous diamond-encrusted skull. The various pieces, which include several other well-known works remade with the skull as part of the work, is supposedly in a bit to raise £20 million to recreate the famous skull.

The incident began when the young designer used an image of Hirst’s skull in a collage that he sold, Hirst threatened him and forced the youth to give up the £200 profit he had earned from it and hand over the collages.

3: Animal rights vs. rodeo DMCA takedown fight settled

Finally today, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association has agreed to pay $25,000 to SHARK (SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness), an animal rights agency that has been critical of their treatment of animals. The PRCA had filed a series of takedown notices against the organization, eventually resulting in the closure of the organization’s account.

However, since it was not the PRCA’s recordings that were being used, SHARK recorded the events themselves, there was no justification in the takedowns, thus resulting in a lawsuit from SHARK and the eventual settlement.

This is another example of what happens when an entity or organization abuses the DMCA to file improper takedowns, especially against those that it disagrees with.

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 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.