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1: VidAngel Files Plan to Pay $62 Million Judgment and Emerge From Bankruptcy
First off today, Gene Maddaus at Variety reports that VidAngel has filed a new plan to emerge from bankruptcy and, as part of that plan, has agreed to a $62.4 million judgment against them over the course of 14 years.
VidAngel, in its previous life, was a film streaming service that allowed users to “purchase” DVDs for $20 and then “resell” them for $19 after streaming them. The family-friendly company would also allow users to filter out objectionable content such as violence and nudity. Movie studios, not happy with the unlicensed streaming component, filed a lawsuit and eventually got a district court to award them $62.4 million in damages after a judgment of willful copyright infringement.
VidAngel declared bankruptcy in October 2017. However, it has continued operation, working now as a software layer that lets people filter content from services such as Netflix and Hulu. VidAngel hopes that the new plan will allow it to emerge from bankruptcy and avoid liquidation.
2: Man Who Leaked Pre-Release Movies Online Sentenced to 27 Months Prison
Next up today, Andy at Torrentfreak writes that a UK man that pleaded guilty to leaking movies before their release has been sentenced to 27 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to defraud.
According to the City of London Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit, the man, Malik Luqman Farooq, went by the alias Dark999 and offered movies for sale illegally, often before they’d been released in theaters. After an investigation, they found 15 other films, allegeldy obtained from a post-production company in the United States.
In addition to his UK troubles, Farooq was also indicted in the United States in December 2018 as one of 5 men accused of offering pre-release copies of movies and TV shows via the internet. That case, however, has not moved forward.
3: G-Eazy and Juicy J Named in Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Over “No Limit”
Finally today, Gavin Evans from Complex reports that Memphis rappers G-Eeazy and Juicy J have been hit by a lawsuit that alleges the G-Easy hit single No Limit was an infringement of an earlier song.
The song, Lookin 4 da Chewin was released in 1993 by artists DJ Squeeky and Gaylon Love. Those two artists claim that G-Easy sampled their track for No Limit and did so without permission or compensation. They are seeking damages, including profits from No Limit.
This lawsuit comes on the heels of another similar lawsuit filed against Juicy J and fellow Three 6 Mafia member DJ Paul. In that case, they were also sued over allegedly uncleared samples from other Memphis-area artists.
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