Copyright & Media Update 1/12/18

January 12, 2018

The Music Modernization Act will provide a needed update to copyright laws

BY REP. DOUG COLLINS: I spent my northeast Georgia youth replaying tracks from “Bat Out of Hell” and “Hotel California.” And, of course, staples from Steely Dan. I welcomed the evolution from the 8-track to cassette to CD, but the LP and 45 vinyl predate even me. So, I was stunned to learn, as a member of the House Judiciary Committee—which has jurisdiction over intellectual property rights—that some of the copyright law governing music licensing was actually designed to regulate the player piano and has endured more than a century without meaningful update. READ MORE…

Facebook Sets Deals With Global Music Rights, Kobalt and SESAC’s Rumblefish

BY MARK SCHNEIDER: Facebook announced a flurry of major partnerships with music industry organizations on Thursday in a step towards reshaping itself as a valuable ecosystem for music rights holders. Among the new orgs pairing with the world’s largest social network are Global Music Rights (GMR), SESAC’s HFA/Rumblefish and Kobalt Music Publishing. The new deals follow close on the heels of agreements with Universal Music Group and Sony/ATV. READ MORE…

‘Music Modernization Act’ Page 38: Artists Forfeit ALL Unclaimed Royalties After 3 Years

BY PAUL RESNIKOFF: It’s been praised as a long overdue piece of royalty legislation, and a fix for years of angry litigation.  But as the 109-page ‘Music Modernization Act’ (H.R. 4706) makes the rounds, some troubling fine print is starting to surface. Earlier this week, Randall Wixen of Wixen Music Publishing was shocked to find that the bill prohibits any litigation against streaming platforms like Spotify.  That’s right: if the bill passes, any litigation for unpaid mechanical royalties filed after January 1st, 2018 would be declared invalid. READ MORE…

Ed Sheeran-Penned Song for Tim McGraw Is Target of Copyright Lawsuit

BY ERIQ GARDNER: Two Australians assert that “The Rest of Our Life” is blatant copying and say it’s hardly a coincidence that the musician who performed their own work is in a relationship with a Sony executive tasked with marketing the defendants’ song. READ MORE…

Apple Faces 30 Class Action Lawsuits + Investigations In US & France Over iPhone Throttling

BY DANIEL SANCHEZ: Does Apple deliberately slow down older iPhones in an attempt to force users to upgrade?  That’s the question federal courts may soon decide. Last month, iPhone users in California and in the Midwest filed multiple lawsuits against the consumer tech giant.  The class-action lawsuits accuse Apple of purposefully engaging in “deceptive, immoral, and unethical practices.” READ MORE…

More Evidence That Netflix and Amazon Have Joined a Legal War Against Piracy

BY ERIQ GARDNER: Should Netflix and Amazon just go ahead and join the Motion Picture Association of America already? One might wonder after seeing the latest lawsuit from the two streamers plus Universal, Columbia, Disney,  20th Century Fox, Paramount and Warner Bros. READ MORE…

About Christian Copyright Solutions: CCS’s quest is to help churches and Christian ministries “do music right.” CCS is an expert on church music copyrights and our primary focus is providing licensing and clear educational resources to churches, as well as representation, administration, and advocacy for copyright owners. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice or a substitute for legal counsel.

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