3 Count: Suspended Sentence

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1: Innetra PC Faces $25m Copyright Lawsuit

First off today, Colin Mann at Advanced Television reports that DISH Network has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Innertra PC, a UK-based hosting provider.

According to the lawsuit, Innetra provides assistance to at least 15 different pirate services. The lawsuit alleges that Innetra has received more than 300 copyright infringement notices but failed to respond to all but one. In that case, they declined to remove the infringing material, saying that they had no legal obligation to do so.

DISH is seeking up to $150,000 per registered work. With 171 works, that amount comes toa maximum of $25.65 million in potential damages. The case is the third such lawsuit against content delivery network providers, with the first being against Datacamp. That resulted in a $3 milllion settlement and agreement to comply with takedown notices.

2: Fmovies: Operators of World’s Largest Piracy Ring Dodge Prison

Next up today, Ernesto Van der Sar at Torrentfreak writes that, in Vietnam, convicted pirate site operators Phan Thành Công, and accomplice Nguyen Tuan Anh have received suspended sentences in their case and will not serve any time in prison.

The two men were accused of operating the once-popular pirate site FMovies. However, that site was shut down last year following action from Vietnamese authories and pressure from US rightsholders. As part of that investigation, both Phan and Nguyen were arrested.

However, both men have been handed suspended sentences. This means that, unless they commit some other crime, they will not see prison for their role in Fmovies. According to paperwork, they have already repaid the financial “benefit” they received, which amounts to VND 406 million ($16,9000).

3: Bakar Hit ‘Hell N Back’ Subject of Lawsuit Alleging It Infringed a Sample – and That a Company Is Claiming ‘False’ Ownership of the Original Work

Finally today, Murray Stassen at Music Business Worldwide reports that TufAmerica/Tuff City Records has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the British musician Bakar, alleging the infringement of a sample usedin Bakar’s 2019 hit song Hell N Back.

According to TufAmerica, Hell N Back contains an unlicensed sample from I Caught You in a Lie, which was written by Wilbert Smith. Smith is lisxted in the credits of Hell N Back under his musician name Lee Diamond. However, TufAmerica claims that they hold the rights to the song and that they never authorized its use.

TufAmerican further alleges that a copmany named Resnik Music Group has been falsely claiming ownership of Smith’s track. In addition to Bakar, Sony Music Entertainment UK and Black Butter are named as defendants in the case.

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