3 Count: Leaving Uruguay

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1: Spotify Plans to Leave Uruguay Over Change to Copyright Laws

First off today, Elias Leight at Billboard reports that the music streaming service Spotify has announced that it plans to exit the country of Uruguay over a change in the country’s copyright laws.

A recent bill passed by the Uruguayan Parliament calls for “equitable remuneration” for artists. However, the bill is unclear about what those payments would look like and where they would come from.

That lack of clarity, according to Spotify, is why the service is leaving the country. The company says that it will begin to phase out its service in the country on January 1, 2024 and completely cease by February.

2: No Prosecution Under Copyright Act For Sale Of Duplicate Spare Parts Of Computer Hardware: Gujarat High Court

Next up today, Bhavya Singh at Live Law 10 reports that a judge at the Gujarat High Court has quashed a first information report (FIR) over the sale of computer spare parts, saying that such parts don’t qualify for protection under the country’s copyright act.

An FIR is a document filed, either by the police or a citizen, which is used to begin a criminal investigation. In this case, the FIR was filed in 2014 by IPR Vigilance Indian Company against Mayur Shah, who they accused of copyright infringement for selling computer spare parts such as printer cartridges.

However, following a petition by Shah, the court has decided to quash the FIR, claiming that there is no evidence that any of the parts Shah sold qualified for copyright protection under Indian law. This means that no criminal prosecution will move forward.

3: Tupac Iconic Hit ‘Dear Mama’ Subject of New Copyright Infringement Lawsuit

Finally today, Daniel Tencer at Music Business Worldwide reports that, some 28 years after its release, the Tupac track Dear Mama is now the target of a copyright infringement lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed by Terence Thomas, who is better known as Master Tee. Thomas is credited as producer on the track, but claims that others involved with it conspired to obscure his role in it and to deny him publishing royalties.

According to the complaint, Thomas has been working as a bus driver for the past 26 years and is “not a sophisticated business person”. As such, he was unaware, until recently, that he was owed royalties on the song, prompting the lawsuit.

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