Legal

372 posts

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Martin Shkreli says his copies of single-copy Wu-Tang album are legit and he shouldn’t have to give them up

The ‘Once Upon A Time In Shaolin’ saga continues. The NFT collective that owns the single-copy Wu-Tang album recently went legal after previous owner Martin Shkreli admitted he still has copies of the record. In a new filing Shkreli says his copies are legit and he should be allowed to keep them…

Chris Cooke • 26 Jul 2024

French and Italian record industries secure new web-blocks

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web-blocking • 2 min read

French and Italian record industries secure new web-blocks

Web-blocking remains an anti-piracy tactic of choice for the music industry. This week the record industries of both Italy and France welcomed the issuing of a number of new web-blocking orders in their respective countries, the Italian ones all targeting stream-ripping…

Chris Cooke • 26 Jul 2024

Man jailed for nearly five years after defrauding $3 million from concert organisers eager to book Justin Bieber

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Legal • 2 min read

Man jailed for nearly five years after defrauding $3 million from concert organisers eager to book Justin Bieber

Two men pleaded guilty earlier this year to scamming nearly $3 million out of a number of concert promoters by falsely claiming to have booked pop stars like Justin Bieber and Billie Eilish to perform at shows. One of those men has now been sentenced to nearly five years in jail…

Chris Cooke • 25 Jul 2024

TikTok criticised over missing safety features in its Lite app

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TikTok • 2 min read

TikTok criticised over missing safety features in its Lite app

A new report from the Mozilla Foundation raises concerns about the TikTok Lite app, claiming that it does not contain many of the safety features found in the main TikTok app, including the labelling of AI-generated content. TikTok says the report is misleading…

Chris Cooke • 25 Jul 2024

It’s “common sense” that audiobooks have “more than token value” says Spotify in MLC lawsuit response letter

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Spotify • 4 min read

It’s “common sense” that audiobooks have “more than token value” says Spotify in MLC lawsuit response letter

Spotify has sent a letter to the court where it has been sued by the MLC in the ongoing dispute over its decision to classify its premium subscription as a music + audiobooks bundle. That centres on whether audiobook access has “more than token value”. Spotify argues that common sense says it does…

Chris Cooke • 24 Jul 2024

BBC provides update on Tim Westwood investigation, report should be published this autumn

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Tim Westwood • 1 min read

BBC provides update on Tim Westwood investigation, report should be published this autumn

The BBC has said that the report it commissioned into the past conduct of Tim Westwood should be published this autumn. It instigated an investigation after allegations of sexual misconduct were made against the DJ, with many of the alleged incidents occurring while he worked for the broadcaster…

CMU • 24 Jul 2024

NTIA calls for local authorities and law-makers to help as increase in noise complaints reaches "crisis level"

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NTIA • 2 min read

NTIA calls for local authorities and law-makers to help as increase in noise complaints reaches "crisis level"

NTIA has published a study into noise complaints against night-time businesses in London, which are up 53% since the pandemic. Disputes between clubs and venues and local residents are putting pressure on those businesses, and could be avoided with better licensing and planning regimes…

Chris Cooke • 22 Jul 2024

AEG sued over car park assault that followed an Elton John show in LA

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AEG • 2 min read

AEG sued over car park assault that followed an Elton John show in LA

AEG and LA’s Dodger Stadium are both accused of negligence in a new lawsuit filed by a couple who were assaulted after attending an Elton John concert. The concert-goers claim there was insufficient security personnel at the venue which emboldened two men who assaulted them in the stadium’s car park…

Chris Cooke • 22 Jul 2024

Live Nation fights back in antitrust battle with US government

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Live Nation • 3 min read

Live Nation fights back in antitrust battle with US government

Live Nation has launched its first salvo to counter the US government’s antitrust lawsuit presenting technical defences, disputing DoJ claims over a ‘tying arrangement’ and arguing that claims made under state law are “threadbare and conclusory”…

Chris Cooke • 19 Jul 2024

Sony Music’s $600 million Michael Jackson deal set to progress after court rejects his mother’s objections

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Michael Jackson • 2 min read

Sony Music’s $600 million Michael Jackson deal set to progress after court rejects his mother’s objections

Michael Jackson’s mother Katherine Jackson has been working hard to block Sony Music’s proposed deal to buy half of the late pop star’s music catalogue. However, a US appeals court has tentatively sided with executors of the Jackson estate, ruling they have the power to close that deal…

Chris Cooke • 19 Jul 2024

Kanye West and Snoop Dogg sued over uncleared samples and beats

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Kanye • 2 min read

Kanye West and Snoop Dogg sued over uncleared samples and beats

Both Kanye West and Snoop Dogg are facing new lawsuits over uncleared samples and beats. West is accused of using a sample on two ‘Donda’ tracks after a licence request was rejected. Snoop’s accuser says he did provide the rapper with two instrumentals, but only for use in the studio…

Chris Cooke • 18 Jul 2024

TikTok owner is a gatekeeper subject to extra regulation, EU court rules

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TikTok • 2 min read

TikTok owner is a gatekeeper subject to extra regulation, EU court rules

Last year the European Commission said that TikTok should be deemed a ‘gatekeeper’ platform under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, and is therefore subject to extra regulation. TikTok disagreed, but an EU court has upheld that decision…

Chris Cooke • 18 Jul 2024