Copyright - CMU | the music business explained

“Unprecedented theft” by AI companies of creators work must be tackled say Australian MPs

public

Artificial Intelligence • 2 min read

“Unprecedented theft” by AI companies of creators work must be tackled say Australian MPs

A committee in the Australian parliament has published a report on AI urging the country’s government to help creators stop the “unprecedented theft of their work” by AI companies. Unsurprisingly, the music industry has welcomed the report and its key recommendations…

Chris Cooke • 02 Dec 2024

Music piracy in Europe down 75% in seven years, and significantly behind TV piracy

public

Piracy • 2 min read

Music piracy in Europe down 75% in seven years, and significantly behind TV piracy

The EU’s Intellectual Property Office has published its latest report on piracy across Europe. Although music piracy in 2023 was up slightly, it’s down significantly compared to 2017. Europeans are also illegally accessing unlicensed TV services much more frequently than they are pirating music…

Chris Cooke • 02 Dec 2024

Will Page says music copyright generated $45.5 billion in 2023

public

Music Rights • 3 min read

Will Page says music copyright generated $45.5 billion in 2023

Music copyright brought in $45.5 billion in 2023, according to Will Page, who has collated industry stats to calculate a figure for the entire sector. Though he says the actual figure is probably higher, because not all the industry reports he relies on capture all the revenue…

Chris Cooke • 25 Nov 2024

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

public

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

public

GEMA • 3 min read

GEMA sues OpenAI

German collecting society GEMA has sued OpenAI for copyright infringement, saying generative AI poses “fundamental legal questions that we absolutely must clarify” through litigation. It’s the first music industry lawsuit against an AI company within Europe rather than the US…

Chris Cooke • 13 Nov 2024

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

public

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

Cox again urges Supreme Court to review major label dispute, to stop “innocent users” losing internet access because “a guest downloaded a couple of songs”

public

Cox Communications • 3 min read

Cox again urges Supreme Court to review major label dispute, to stop “innocent users” losing internet access because “a guest downloaded a couple of songs”

Cox Communications has made another filing with the US Supreme Court, which it wants to intervene in its billion dollar legal dispute with the major record companies. Much of the submission deals with legal technicalities, but it also makes some bombastic ‘save the internet’ type statements…

Chris Cooke • 06 Nov 2024

Universal Music claims Believe has built its business on “industrial-scale copyright infringement” and wants $500 million

public

Believe • 3 min read

Universal Music claims Believe has built its business on “industrial-scale copyright infringement” and wants $500 million

Universal Music has filed a bombastic $500 million lawsuit against Believe accusing it of facilitating rampant copyright infringement by allowing fraudsters to illegally deliver tracks owned by the major to the streaming services, claiming royalties when those uploads are streamed…

Chris Cooke • 05 Nov 2024

Another court says that Ed Sheeran’s ‘Thinking Out Loud’ is not a ‘Let's Get It On’ rip off

public

Ed Sheeran • 3 min read

Another court says that Ed Sheeran’s ‘Thinking Out Loud’ is not a ‘Let's Get It On’ rip off

Ed Sheeran has again defeated a legal claim that his hit ‘Thinking Out Loud’ rips off Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’. A jury sided with Sheeran on this claim in May 2023, but a second lawsuit was filed by a company with an interest in Gaye’s song. That second lawsuit was dismissed and then appealed…

Chris Cooke • 04 Nov 2024

Parliament’s culture committee chair urges ministers to not put “flawed” AI copyright exception back on the agenda

public

AI • 3 min read

Parliament’s culture committee chair urges ministers to not put “flawed” AI copyright exception back on the agenda

There has been speculation that the UK government might be considering introducing a new copyright exception for AI companies, something the last government proposed and then rejected. Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of Parliament’s culture committee, has written to ministers opposing any such plan…

Chris Cooke • 15 Oct 2024

Caroline Dinenage MP writes to Lisa Nandy amid reports government may be considering a text and data mining AI copyright exception

public

Caroline Dinenage MP • 1 min read

Caroline Dinenage MP writes to Lisa Nandy amid reports government may be considering a text and data mining AI copyright exception

Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of Parliament’s culture committee, has written to ministers following reports that the new UK government might be considering introducing a text and data mining copyright exception that could be utlised by AI companies, a move the last government proposed and then dropped…

CMU • 14 Oct 2024

The majors also want the US Supreme Court to intervene in the Cox case

public

Cox Communications • 4 min read

The majors also want the US Supreme Court to intervene in the Cox case

The major record companies have asked the US Supreme Court to intervene in their dispute with Cox Communications. They had been set to receive a billion dollars in damages, but an appeals court ruling could see that figure slashed. The majors want the appeals ruling reversed…

Chris Cooke • 21 Aug 2024