Music industry legal news

Ed Sheeran song-theft case should be reconsidered because of fishy Supreme Court ruling, says SAS

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Ed Sheeran • 3 min read

Ed Sheeran song-theft case should be reconsidered because of fishy Supreme Court ruling, says SAS

The Second Circuit Appeals Court recently ruled that Ed Sheeran’s ‘Thinking Out Loud’ doesn’t rip off Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’. But the company involved in that lawsuit says a recent US Supreme Court ruling impacts on a copyright technicality that could change that judgement…

Chris Cooke • 20 Nov 2024

Trump nominates outspoken TikTok critic for top FCC position

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TikTok • 3 min read

Trump nominates outspoken TikTok critic for top FCC position

Despite previously trying to ban TikTok when he was President, Donald Trump vowed to save the app during the recent election campaign by overturning the sell-or-be-banned law passed by US Congress earlier this year. But now Trump has nominated a very outspoken TikTok critic to chair the FCC…

Chris Cooke • 19 Nov 2024

Labels told Apple six times to kick Musi out of App Store, new legal filing reveals

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Musi • 2 min read

Labels told Apple six times to kick Musi out of App Store, new legal filing reveals

In September, Apple kicked music app Musi out of its App Store following a complaint from YouTube. Musi then sued Apple. In response, Apple says that it also received numerous complaints from the record industry, and that Musi knows what the issues are with its repurposing of YouTube content…

Chris Cooke • 19 Nov 2024

Diddy accused of contacting witnesses from prison; while he accuses prosecutors of breaching attorney-client privilege

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Diddy • 3 min read

Diddy accused of contacting witnesses from prison; while he accuses prosecutors of breaching attorney-client privilege

In a busy day for Diddy legal news, the musician has been accused of breaking prison rules by contacting witnesses in the case against him; his lawyers have accused prosecutors of breaching attorney-client privilege; and a lawyer working on lawsuits against Diddy has been accused of extortion…

Chris Cooke • 19 Nov 2024

PRS files lawsuit against Live Nation over VIP ticketing saying live giant shows “disregard” for creators rights to proper payment

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PRS For Music • 7 min read

PRS files lawsuit against Live Nation over VIP ticketing saying live giant shows “disregard” for creators rights to proper payment

PRS is suing Live Nation, saying that it is not properly breaking down the way VIP ticketing works, meaning that music creators could be missing out on money due to them from live performances. In an exclusive statement to CMU, PRS said the live giant has shown “disregard” for licensing requirements…

Sam Taylor • 15 Nov 2024

US Copyright Office boss says she’s “kept up” at night by the speed at which AI is developing

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Artificial Intelligence • 3 min read

US Copyright Office boss says she’s “kept up” at night by the speed at which AI is developing

The US Copyright Office recently undertook a consultation on copyright and AI. In an update to Senators, the Office revealed that both AI companies and copyright owners think current US copyright law is fit for purpose. They just radically disagree on how those laws should be interpreted…

Chris Cooke • 14 Nov 2024

Major labels vs ISPs rumbles on as labels ask appeals court to reconsider latest Grande ruling

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Grande Communications • 3 min read

Major labels vs ISPs rumbles on as labels ask appeals court to reconsider latest Grande ruling

A US appeals court recently upheld a copyright ruling secured against Grande Communications by the major labels. However, it also ordered for the ISP’s damages bill to be recalculated in a way that would mean the labels get less cash. The majors want that element of the decision to be reconsidered…

Chris Cooke • 12 Nov 2024

Cloudflare says EU piracy list should focus on “truly bad actors”, not companies like Cloudflare

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Cloudflare • 3 min read

Cloudflare says EU piracy list should focus on “truly bad actors”, not companies like Cloudflare

The EU is currently compiling the next edition of its Piracy Watch List, with rightsholders submitting lists of their main piracy concerns. In some cases that includes grievances about internet services companies like Cloudflare. But that’s not what the Watch List should be about, insists Cloudflare…

Chris Cooke • 08 Nov 2024

PRS says claim it dubbed venues and managers “inefficient” and “unprofessional” is “utterly untrue”

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PRS For Music • 2 min read

PRS says claim it dubbed venues and managers “inefficient” and “unprofessional” is “utterly untrue”

PRS has responded to the claim that it recently implied that smaller venues, and the managers of artists that play them, are “inefficient” and “unprofessional”. The claim - based on something PRS said in recent a filing as part of an ongoing legal battle - is “false”, the collecting society insists…

Chris Cooke • 08 Nov 2024

Kem manager dispute puts sunset clauses in the spotlight

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Kem • 2 min read

Kem manager dispute puts sunset clauses in the spotlight

A dispute between Kem and his ex-manager highlights the importance of management deals being properly documented in writing. The manager claims she is still due commissions on his income despite not managing him since 2016. That depends on whether agreements from 2003 or 2005 are still in force…

Chris Cooke • 07 Nov 2024

PRS thinks managers and venues are “inefficient” and “unprofessional”, claim songwriters suing PRS

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PRS For Music • 4 min read

PRS thinks managers and venues are “inefficient” and “unprofessional”, claim songwriters suing PRS

The songwriters who are suing PRS in a dispute about how the society deals with artists directly licensing live shows have criticised a statement defending the PRS Major Live Concerts Service, which implies that most managers and venues are “inefficient” and “unprofessional”…

Chris Cooke • 07 Nov 2024

Canadian government wants TikTok out of Canada for national security, but avoids outright ban on app

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TikTok • 2 min read

Canadian government wants TikTok out of Canada for national security, but avoids outright ban on app

Canada has forced the shutdown of TikTok’s operations in the country on national security grounds, but Canadians will still be free to use the TikTok app. Meanwhile in the US there is speculation newly elected President Donald Trump will reverse the pending TikTok ban there…

Chris Cooke • 07 Nov 2024

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