Category Archives: Uncategorized

The USMCA (called the CUSMA in Canada—just because we like to be different—I will use the two terms interchangeably) has passed in the US Congress and been signed by President Trump. It has also completed the ratification process in Mexico. But in Canada, where Justin Trudeau heads a minority Liberal government, it is still undergoing […]Continue reading “Implementing the USMCA/CUSMA: What Copyright-Related Constraints (and Costs) Does it Impose on Canada—and the US? — Hugh Stephens Blog”

In order to break through the lobbyist mumble tank, the Congress needs to hear clear and persuasive facts from creators like Jonathan Yunger. You Can’t Call 911: @jyunger of @MillenniumFilms Tells Senate Why Piracy is Still a Problem and How U.S. has Failed to Lead — Music Technology Policy

A new study suggests what we’ve suspected for years is right: YouTube is a pipeline for extremism and hate. How do we know that? More than 330,000 videos on nearly 350 YouTube channels were analyzed and manually classified according to a system designed by the Anti-Defamation League. They were labeled as either media (or what we think ofContinue reading “@tanyabasu: YouTube’s algorithm seems to be funneling people to alt-right videos”

His Master had told him to call for help should a Wolf attack the flock, and the Villagers would drive it away. So now, though he had not seen anything that even looked like a Wolf, he ran toward the village shouting at the top of his voice, “Wolf! Wolf!” As he expected, the Villagers […]Continue reading “Google Says Don’t Break the Internet–Again–this time to Oracle at SCOTUS — Music Technology Policy”

…there was lunch in the larger, first floor cafeteria where, in the corner, on a small stage there was a man, playing a guitar, who looked like an aging singer-songwriter Mae’s parents listened to. “Is that….?” “It is,” Annie said, not breaking her stride. “There’s someone every day. Musicians, comedians, writers….We book them a year […]Continue reading “Is Streaming a New Shadow Economy? — Artist Rights Watch”

Here they come again: Hawkfish is Big Tech’s latest attempt to interfere in elections, this time with added Bloomberg, Ron Conway (massive infringers Google/Facebook) and Fred Wilson (viciously exploitative Sofar and the massive infringer Cloudflare). Why should Cambridge Analytica have all the fun? Mike Bloomberg is plowing millions of dollars into a secretive tech firmContinue reading “Big Tech Election Interference Redux”

Graham Henderson (@GFHenderson) writes on Twitter: “Music Canada hired an economist, Dr George Barker, to factor in inflation & GDP. Something to remember when you think about the size of this gap is that the music industry until 1999 & almost from inception outpaced BOTH inflation and GDP. So you are really looking at aContinue reading “More Value Gap Evidence Cuts Against Safe Harbor”

A group of legislators have written a letter to the American Law Institute asking for an explanation of why the ALI finds it necessary to draft a “Restatement of Copyright Law”. They have good reason–historically, the Restatement series has been a crystallization of “”black letter law” on common law subjects such as Property, Agency, and […]Continue reading “Letter on “Restatement of Copyright” to American Law Institute from @SenThomTillis @RepBenCline @RepMarthaRoby @RepTedDeutch and Rep. @HarleyRouda A Leading Cause of Pearl Clutching — Artist Rights Watch”

Variety reports that the Spotify corpcomms book “Spotify Untold” is getting an order from Netflix for a series telling the story of Spotify’s “creation” featuring–guess who? The levitational awesomeness of Daniel Ek. No word on who will play David Lowery, Melissa Ferrick, Bob Gaudio or Brownlee Ferguson. So Netflix–which screws songwriters–is promoting Spotify–which also screws […]Continue reading “@variety: New Netflix Original to Tell the Story of Spotify’s Creation — Artist Rights Watch”

You’re probably aware that Google keeps tabs on what you’re up to on its devices, apps, and services—but you might not realize just how far its tracking reach extends, into the places you go, the purchases you make, and much more. It’s an extensive set of data, but you can take more control over what Google collects about youContinue reading “All the Ways Google Tracks You—And How to Stop It”