3 Count: Less Liquid VPN

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1: TekSavvy’s Second Appeal on Landmark Website-Blocking Order Dismissed

First off today, Nida Zzafar at MobileSyrup reports that the Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed an appeal by local internet service provider TekSavvy that attempted to overturn a site blocking order it has been instructed to follow.

The story began in 2019 when the same court ordered all ISPs in Canada to block a pirate site named GoldTV. Though most complied, TekSavvy argued that it was a violation of freedom of expression and was a misapplication of the Copyright Act.

However, their appeal was shot down then, prompting them to file a second appeal in August 2021. That too has wound its way to the Supreme Court of Canada, prompting a second dismissal of the arguments. TekSavvy said in a statement that, while they do not condone piracy, they feel that their role as an internet carrier makes site blocking inappropriate and that any such system should be created by the government, not the courts.

2: LiquidVPN Ordered to Pay Filmmakers $14m in Copyright Damages

Next up today, Ernesto Van der Sar at Torrentfreak writes that the virtual private network (VPN) service LiquidVPN has been ordered to pay $14 million in damages to a group of filmmakers following a default judgment.

The lawsuit was filed by a group of independent filmmakers claiming that the VPN service endorsed and encouraged piracy. However, LiquidVPN never responded to the case, prompting the court to issue a default judgment against them. Along with that judgment now comes some $14 million in damages, most of it for copyright infringement but $250,000 of it for the use of the “Popcorn Time” trademark.

The lawsuit had also targeted an ISP that works with LiquidVPN, but the company was dismissed from the case as the court found they were too far removed from the alleged infringements.

3: Brian Wilson Sued by Ex-Wife Over $50 Million Song Rights Deal with Universal

Finally today, Chris Cooke at Complete Music Update reports that the ex-wife of Beach Boys songwriter Brian Wilson has filed a lawsuit against Wilson and his publisher over a $50 million deal that saw Universal Music Publishing take over the full rights to his catalog.

Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford and Brian Wilson divorced in 1981, they reached a settlement where Wilson-Rutherford was owed a 50% interest in any income Wilson received from songs written during their marriage. Universal recently paid Wilson $50 million to own the rights to his catalog, and that included $32 million for the actual rights and another $18 million for Wilson to waive his copyright termination rights.

According to the lawsuit, Wilson paid his ex-wife $11 million for the first part of the deal but argues that she is not owed anything on the copyright termination portion. Wilson-Rutherford disputes that, prompting the lawsuit. The case has been moved from state court to a California federal court.

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