Big news about the Performance Rights Act and the future of sound recording copyrights in the U.S! The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently weighed in on the issue of the Performance Rights Act, which would make terrestrial radio stations subject to paying royalties to the sound recording copyright owners. For a discussion of [...]
Archive for Music and Entertainment LawUnited States GAO Weighs In On Performance Rights ActFriday, June 18th, 2010RIAA Celebrates Win in LimeWire LawsuitTuesday, June 1st, 2010U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood has ruled in favor of the RIAA in its lawsuit against Lime Wire LLC, the company behind P2P client LimeWire. Wood stated Lime Wire committed copyright infringement, engaged in unfair competition, and induced copyright infringement. The company’s founder Mark Gorton was also held personally responsible. The RIAA originally filed a [...] Google sues small indie music labelThursday, May 20th, 2010Earlier this month Google filed a complaint in California Northern District Court, asking a federal judge for declaratory judgment in the search giant’s recent copyright infringement lawsuit with Blues Destiny Records. Google’s complaint follows from an initial lawsuit brought by Florida-based Blues Destiny Records in December 2009. Microsoft and Rapidshare were also named as defendants [...] No Doubt win latest round in lawsuit against ActivisionWednesday, May 12th, 2010The latest development in No Doubt’s lawsuit against Activision occurred Thursday April 15, when Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Kenji Machida issued a tentative ruling rejecting Activision’s 1st Amendment defense claims in its use of No Doubt avatars in the “Band Hero” game. No Doubt first filed a lawsuit against Activision following the release [...] Sardonyx Music ConferenceMonday, May 10th, 2010Sardonyx SXSW Day 4 Wrap UpSunday, March 21st, 2010Day 4 was another day of Continuing Legal Education panels. The first panel was legal ethics in music law. The topics discussed included obtaining informed consent, inclusion of appropriate disclaimers (especially when demo shopping), the customary contingency fees for demo shopping, and multi-jurisdictional practice. Some of the panelists said that they practice in jurisdictions in [...] SXSW Day 3 Wrap UpSaturday, March 20th, 2010The third day of South By Southwest was a Continuing Legal Education day. There were plenty of technical legal discussions and issues. Panel one was Music Policy and Legislation. This panel discussed the likelihood of the passage of the current Performance Rights Act. Right now, the performers are not paid when songs are on the [...] SXSW Day 2 Wrap UpFriday, March 19th, 2010The first panel that I chose at SXSW was Martin Atkins’ Welcome to the Music Industry: You’re F****d. This interestingly named panel addressed all of the potential pitfalls that up and coming artists face in trying to break in to the industry. He covered basic concepts, such as humility, and practical advice, like sticking to [...] SXSW Day 1 Wrap UpThursday, March 18th, 2010After the Derek Sivers panel, I went to a panel on the business model for Rock Band for artists. The company is releasing some new tools that will allow artists to create Rock Band tracks that can be downloaded by users, essentially creating a music store for unsigned bands to create and post Rock Band [...] Day 1 of SXSWWednesday, March 17th, 2010After a nice complimentary breakfast at our Downtown Embassy Suites Hotel, we made the trek across the Ann Richards Bridge to the Austin Convention Center. Registration at SXSW was easy. We only had to stand in line for about three minutes and our badges were printed out and given to us. The first panel of [...] |