3 Count: Seated Jury
Maybe they can jam out to some elevator music...
Have any suggestions for the 3 Count? Let me know via Twitter @plagiarismtoday.
1: Jury is Picked for $9 Billion Oracle v. Google Showdown
First off today, Joe Mullin at Ars Technica reports that the jury has been seated in the Google/Oracle case over the Java API and the second trial is set to begin.
The lawsuit deals with Google’s implementation of the Java programming language in its Android mobile operating system. Though Google rewrote the language, it reused original Java APIs to ensure compatibility. Oracle, which owns the original language, filed suit and, at an initial trial, the jury was split on whether or not the use was a fair use. Now, following an appeal that ruled APIs are copyrightable, the stage is set for a second trial on that issue.
Of the potential jurors, only one had significant computer experience and was dismissed by Oracle. He was also the only one to be familiar with the term “fair use”. Another juror was struck because he didn’t believe in free software and others were also struck because they or relatives owned stock in the companies involved.
2: UK Government Expands Crackdown on Online Piracy
Next up today, Andy at Torrentfreak writes that the UK government has published a 4-year plan for intellectual property enforcement in the country. Entitled Protecting Creativity, Supporting Innovation: IP Enforcement 2020, the guide looks at the governments plans for copyright and other forms of intellectual property over the next four years.
The strategy says the government is planning a review of the notice and takedown system in the country, seeking possibly a “notice and trackdown” option that would enable rightsholders to follow up directly with alleged infringers after securing removal.
The government also says it will be ramping up its efforts to encourage consumers to buy content from legitimate sources. This will be done primarily through their long-delayed ISP notice system that warns suspected pirates when they are detected infringing. They will also target pirate websites using their existing Infringing Websites List that aims to reduce advertising on such sites.
3: A Spotify for Elevator Music Could Finally Uncover Streaming’s Elusive Profits
Finally today, Joon Ian Wong at Quartz reports that a new music streaming startup isn’t hoping to revolutionize your music library, but rather, the music played in various stores and other businesses.
The current industry leader in the field is Mood Media, which is the successor to Muzak, it has long offered CDs to stores and other businesses with so-called “elevator-music” versions of popular songs. In the case of Mood Music, the songs are sent to the stores on CD once a month or twice a month during peak seasons, such as during the holidays.
However, now, a startup entitled Soundtrack Your Brand is stepping in to disrupt this space. Charging $50 per month the company, which is partially owned by Spotify, gives business access to between 200,000 and 300,000 tracks that they can play via streaming. The company has already signed deals with Starbucks and McDonald’s in Sweden has has also struck a deal with McDonald’s in the US. Though those deals aren’t major revenue drivers, the company estimates its business could be worth hundreds of millions in just a few year’s time.
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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