3 Count: Mega Silence

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1: Kim Dotcom: Mega Search Engines Have to Play by the Rules

First off today, Ernesto at Torrentfreak writes that Mega, Kim Dotcom’s follow up to Megaupload, has forced Mega-Search, a search engine that indexed publicly-shared files, out of business.

Mega-Search required that users submit files for inclusion and, initially, Mega simply started deleting every file that appears in the site’s index, regardless of legitimacy, leading some to conclude that Mega was the victim of widespread fale DMCA takedowns.

However, Dotcom said that Mega search engines will have to follow his rules, including not using of Mega’s trademarks and having a takedown policy to remove infringing files from their results.

2: Valve Sued in Germany Over Game Ownership

Next up today, Loek Essers at PC World reports that video game maker Valve, which is also behind the popular Steam game sales and distribution platform, is being sued in Germany over its lack of means to sell used games.

Federation of German Consumer Organizations (VZBV) warned Valve in September that it needed to make it possible to resell used game licenses but Valve did not set up such a system. Valve currently offers no means to resell old games purchased through its online store and buying/selling whole accounts is forbidden in the site’s TOS.

The VZBV had sued Valve before over Valve’s practice of not permitting users to sell account and Valve emerged victorious after the case reached the German Federal Court of Justice. However, in a case similar to the new lawsuit to the new lawsuit, the Court of Justice of the European Union more recently ruled that trading “used” software licenses is legal and the author can not oppose resale.

3: CES Drops CNET, Names Dish Hopper Best in Show

Finally today, in another twist to the CBS/CNET/Hopper saga, the Consume Electronics Show (CES) has announced that it is dropping CNET as a partner and has awarded Dish Network’s Hopper DVR the “Best of Show” prize for the 2013 event.

CNET, which is owned by CBS, had been responsible for doling out the awards under a contract with CES. However, controversy arose this year when CNET gave Dish Network’s Hopper DVR, which automatically skips commercials, the “Best of Show” award only to have CBS, which is suing Dish Network over Hopper, force CNET to remove it from contention.

CES will soon send out request for proposals to have other news organizations fill CNET’s role though CES has said it will continue to have a media relationship with CNET.

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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