3 Count: Self Strike

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1: RCN Faces Another Multi-Million Dollar Piracy Lawsuit

First off today, Ernesto Van der Sar at Torrentfreak writes that the internet service provider RCN, better known as Astound, is facing yet another copyright infringement lawsuit, this one filed by Screen Media Ventures.

Screen Media Ventures alleges that RCN has not taken enough action against allegedly infringing customers to enjoy protection under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Under the DMCA, service providers like RCN are required to terminate the accounts of repeat infringers but failed to do so repeatedly.

Those allegations prompted a series of lawsuits by record labels and film companies. Screen Media had hoped to join an amended complaint with another case involving RCN, but the judge denied the request, saying that it would too greatly expand the lawsuit. As such, Screen Media has now filed its own case against RCN, one with almost identical allegations to the original.

2: NJPW Issues Copyright Strike Against…..NJPW

Next up today, Jeremy Lambert at Fightful reports that the wrestling promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling, NJPW, filed a copyright claim on one of its own videos, causing it to be briefly removed from YouTube.

The video at issue was a full episode of their TV show STRONG that debuted in August, which featured a well-received match between KAIRI and Mercedes Mone. However, as NJPW was hyping the episode and the match as one of the best of 2023 on social media, fans noticed that the episode had been taken down.

The reason for the removal, according to YouTube, was a copyright notice filed by NJPW itself. The issue seems to have been sorted and the episode is again available for viewing.

3: ‘Steamboat Willie’ Horror Film Announced as Mickey Mouse Enters Public Domain

Finally today, Gene Maddaus at Variety reports that, a mere day after Steamboat Willie, the first cartoon to feature Mickey Mouse, entered the public domain, film director Steven LaMorte announced a new horror film based on that version of the character.

LaMorte recently directed The Mean One, a horror comedy that focused on the character of The Grinch. Though The Gring is still protected by copyright, he felt that the film was enough of a parody to be allowed as fair use. However, with this film, he deliberately waited for the original cartoon to expire.

That said, the film is still being careful to avoid running afoul of other copyrights Disney does hold or its trademark in the character. LaMorte said they are working with attorneys and don’t plan to name the character Mickey Mouse, opting instead for “Steamboat Willie.”

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