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European Commission Blueprint On IP
The European Commission has set out its blueprint on Intellectual property rights (IPR). According to a Commission Press Release, …”technological change and, in particular, the growing importance of online activities, have completely changed the world in which IPR operate. The existing mix of European and national rules are no longer adapted and need to be modernised.…
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Access Industries To Acquire Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group and Access Industries, the U.S.-based industrial group, announced the execution of a definitive merger agreement under which Access Industries will acquire WMG in an all-cash transaction valued at $3.3 billion. The purchase includes WMG’s entire recorded music and music publishing businesses (Access Industries Statement). It is interesting to see how such a…
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EMI Taking Back Digital Rights From ASCAP
According to HypeBot, “…In a radical shift, EMI Music Publishing today announced that it is taking back the responsibility for licensing digital rights in North American from ASCAP. The performance rights society will continue to license EMI’s performance rights for traditional media services, including television and radio stations… …For EMI, the change is designed to…
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China’s New Internet Regulator
According to the The Chinese Government’s Official Web Portal: “…the Chinese government announced Wednesday the setting up of an office to manage Internet information. The department, known as the State Internet Information Office, will: direct, coordinate and supervise online content management and handle administrative approval of businesses related to online news reporting…, work to implement…
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Camden Lock Denied DotCom
A WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, administrative panel decision has denied Camden Lock Limited and others, the entities owning the famous North London market, a transfer of the domain name “camdenlock.com” registered with eNom in Malaysia. As per the decision, the “…Complainant has failed on the present pleadings and evidence to carry its burden of proving…
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Tyson’s Tattoo
“…In “The Hangover Part II”, the sequel to the very successful what-happened-last-night comedy, the character played by Ed Helms wakes up with a permanent tattoo bracketing his left eye. The Maori-inspired design is instantly recognizable as the one sported by the boxer Mike Tyson, which is part of the joke (Mr. Tyson makes an appearance…
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Digital Opportunity
A new report commissioned by the UK government proposes a clear change in the strategic direction of IP policy designed to ensure that the UK has an IP framework best suited to supporting innovation and promoting economic growth in the digital age. The Review recommends: an efficient digital copyright licensing system. an approach to exceptions…
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Twitter & Super Injunctions
The British legal system seems to be in a tangle …”due to the ability of Twitter users to break any legal ‘super injunction’ a ‘celebrity’ (usually footballers) has on the reporting of their private life (usually affairs)…” (Mike Butcher, TechCrunch Europe).
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Apple’s Cloud
Apple plans to announce the launch a new cloud music service later in the year. “…It has deals with three of the big music labels. And it is in talks to close a deal with Universal Music Group, the world’s biggest music company. But when Apple gets its Universal deal done, it still won’t be ready…
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Down Under
EMI has lost an appeal in Australia over a 2010 Federal Court ruling that the well knwon flute rift of the Men at Work song Down Under copied a substantial part of a children’s folk song Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree. EMI are to pay Kookaburra’s composer five per cent of Down Under‘s royalties since 2002 (CBC…