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Opinion: Supreme Court decision on copyright of foreign works a blow to free speech

donal brown January 23, 2012

The U.S. Supreme Court extended copyright protection to foreign works created from 1023 to 1989 and already in the public domain thereby shutting down creative uses of these works to protect profits of the owners of old works. The overall result, argues Ken Paulson of the First Amendment Center, is a loss of free speech. -db In a commentary from the First Amendment Center, January 20, 2012, by Ken Paulson. Full story  

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Justice Department shuts down popular file-sharing site in criminal copyright case

donal brown January 23, 2012

In a criminal copyright case, the Justice Department shut down Megaupload, executed search warrants , arrested some executives and seized $50 worth of assets. The Justice Department claimed that Megaupload violated copyrights of movies, “often before their theatrical release, music, television programs, electronic books, and business and entertainment software on a massive scale.” -db From Wired, January 19, 2012, by David Kravets. Full story  

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Senate majority leader stalls Internet piracy legislation

donal brown January 23, 2012

In a victory for the technology industry, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid postponed a vote on the Protect IP Act, the online piracy bill before the Senate. In effect, Congress is going back to the drawing board to balance intellectual property rights with openness and innovation on the Internet. -db From Wired, January 20, 2012, by David Kravets. Full story  

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Sony/ATV sues karaoke distributor for copyright infringement

donal brown January 23, 2012

In retaliation for being sued by a major karaoke distributor in California federal court for disrupting the karaoke marketplace, Sony/ATV went to Nashville to sue KTS Karaoke for copyright infringement. Sony/ATV wants greater compensation in a complicated system of multiple rights and forms of payments but is now suing for damages, an injunction and a recall of all karaoke CDs so they may be destroyed. -db From the Hollywood Reporter, January 20, 2012,  by Eriq

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U.S. Supreme Court backs 1994 law granting copyright protection to foreign works

donal brown January 19, 2012

Rejecting arguments that a 1994 law complying with an international treaty violated U.S. copyright law and free speech rights, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 6-2 to extend copyright protection to foreign works. Google was among those against the law, but the government said that foreign works should receive the same treatment as domestic works under the reciprocal international copyright system. -db From Reuters, January 18, 2012. Full story  

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