3 Count: Sega Saga

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1: U.S. Copyright Office Releases Proposals for Fundamentals of Music Copyright

First off today, Glenn Peoples at Billboard reports that the U.S. Copyright Office has released its music licensing study, which proposes drastic reforms to music licensing in the country.

The proposal aims to streamline and simplify music licensing and, among its proposals, it included the requirement for terrestrial radio to pay royalties for sound recordings, allowing publishers to withdraw from performing rights organizations for interactive streaming and bundling of mechanical and performance rights.

Other key proposals include the federalization of pre-1972 sound recordings, establishing a new performance right for sound recordings and overhauling the consent decrees placed on ASCAP and BMI, which license compositions for public performance. The 245-page proposal goes into far more detail, but the proposal has been welcomed, with some trepidation, by both tech companies and music industry members alike.

2: Sega Issues Cease And Desist to eLicense Over Youtube Copyright Claims

Next up today, Shaun Joy at TechRaptor reports that video game maker Sega has issued a cease and desist against the rights enforcement company eLicense, instructing the company that it does not have clearance to file Content ID notification on Sega’s behalf.

The story began earlier this week when many YouTube videos featuring Sega content began receiving notices of a Content ID match. Though the videos were not removed, the uploader lost their ability to earn revenue from them. The notices came from a company named eLicense, which is known for enforcing copyrights on YouTube and other sites.

Many began to believe that Sega was following a similar path to Nintendo, which began issuing Content ID claims on Nintendo content in a similar fashion. However, Sega, in a post on their forums, has said they have no deal with eLicense and have sent a cease and desist letter ordering the company to stop filing such notices on Sega’s behalf. They are also working with YouTube to help those who have been impacted.

3: Left Shark Journeys from Super Bowl to Internet Meme to Lawsuit Threat

Finally today, because it had to happen. Jon Healey at The LA Times reports that a lawyer representing Katy Perry has sent a cease and desist letter to Fernando Sosa, a figurine crafter who was selling “Left Shark” figurines through Shapeways alleging copyright infringement.

Left Shark refers to the rhythmically-challenged left shark dancer during Katy Perry’s Super Bowl halftime performance. Left Shark went on to become a popular meme and one of the most memorable moments from the Super Bowl.

With the letter, the Left Shark figurine is down though Sosa has uploaded it to Maekerdbot’s Thingiverse site, letting others download and 3D print their own Left Sharks. However, it’s unclear if the costume is copyrightable, if the rights to Left Share are owned by Katy Perry and if the figurine was infringing.

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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