3 Count: RIP FMovies

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1: Top Movie Piracy Ring Taken Down, Major Studios’ Enforcement Group Claims

First off today, Katie Kilkenny at The Hollywood Reporter writes that the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) says that it, along with Vietnamese law enforcement, has shuttered the popular movie piracy service Fmovies, resulting in the closure of dozens of popular pirate websites.

Fmovies was one of the most popular movie piracy websites. However, in addition to their own services, they also ran a video hosting provider named Vidscr.to. Many smaller piracy sites used that service to host their content.

As such, when police in Vietnam raided Fmovies headquarters, they shuttered both services. They result is sites that attracted more than 6.7 billion visits in the last 18 months are gone. Though the closure had been previously reported on, ACE has now confirmed its involvement and the scope of the takedown.

2: Missy Elliott Must Face Trial in Lawsuit From Alleged 1990s Co-Writer — Though Not Over Aaliyah Song

Next up today, Bill Donahue at Billboard reports that Missy Elliott will face a trial in a case filed by a man who claims to have co-written several of her songs. However, the judge dismissed allegations involving a song released by Aaliyah.

The lawsuit was filed by Terry Williams, who claimed that he collaborated with Elliott on many songs in the 1990s but was never given co-writer credit. However, similar claims of his filed against the late musical Aaliyah were dismissed due to the judge finding they were barred by the statute of limitations.

However, in the dispute involving Elliott’s songs, the judge ruled that there was enough dispute over fact to let a jury hear the case. Though a major win for Williams, it means that he has to now prepare for a possible trial.

3: Trump Campaign Must Stop Using Isaac Hayes Song After Lawsuit From Family

Finally today, The Associated Press reports that an Atlanta judge has issued an injunction against the presidential campaign for Donald Trump, barring him from playing any music by Isaac Hayes.

The Hayes state filed the lawsuit after Trump used the Hayes song Hold On, I’m Coming at campaign events. The estate sent a cease and desist letter to the campaign, which was ignored. That prompted the lawsuit.

Lawyers from the campaign alleged that the estate did not hold the copyright in the song in question. However, the judge saw enough evidence to issue an emergency injunction, barring the campaign from playing the song at future events.

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