3 Count: Hopping Mad

Have any suggestions for the 3 Count? Let me know via Twitter @plagiarismtoday.

1: Bad Bunny Files Lawsuit Against Fan for Posting Concert Footage on YouTube

First off today, NBC News reports that the musician Bad Bunny has filed a lawsuit against a fan over allegations that he posted concert footage to his YouTube channel, violating the copyright in some 10 of his songs.

The lawsuit was filed in California against Eric Guillermo Madronal Garrone, who Bad Bunny alleges posted video footage from a concert in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, unlike social media clips or shorts, the footage included 10 whole songs, prompting him to file a takedown with YouTube.

However, after the notice was filed, Garrone is accused of having filed a counternotice with YouTube, resulting in the video being restored. This prompted the lawsuit from Bad Bunny, which is seeking an injunction to prevent the video from coming back online and is also seeking damages related to the use of his songs.

2: Brazil Piracy Concerns at USTR Follow MPA Anti-Piracy Deal Controversy

Next up today, Andy Maxwell at Torrentfreak writes that the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has received a report from the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) detailing concerns over changes in Brazil that it claims may result in foreign works receiving less protection in the country.

The USTR asked for clarification after the IIPA expressed concern at a hearing. In their written filing, the IIPA highlights a deal between Brazil’s National Film Agency and the national telecoms regulator to create a new anti-piracy partnership. However, according to the government, enforcement of foreign works is outside their purview, meaning that domestic works may see much greater protection than international ones.

This is especially worrisome for the IPAA because, in signing this new anti-piracy effort, the government ended a deal with the Motion Picture Association (MPA), which allegedly prioritized United States content. The filing is part of the USTR’s annual Special 301 Review, which aims to highlight nations that are not taking adequate steps to protect intellectual property. The report is slated to be released in a few weeks.

3: Appeal Court’s Ruling on Copyright Makes Sense

Finally today, Sally Peart at the Otago Daily Times reports that, In New Zealand, the Court of Appeals has ruled that an artist must share the value of their copyrights with their former spouse as part of a divorce proceeding.

The case involves painter Sirpa Alalääkkölä, who was married to Paul Palmer for 20 years until they separated in 2017. While the physical paintings were considered community property that required division, Palmer argued that the copyright should also be treated as relationship property and that he should retain copyright interest in those paintings.

However, the court found that Alalääkkölä should retain the copyright in all of her works, saying that splitting the copyright could case other significant harms to her. That said, the court did rule that Palmer was elligible for additional compensation to recoup the loss of those copyrights and ensure that the property is split evenly.

The 3 Count Logo was created by Justin Goff and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.