Megaupload To Sue Universal Music ?
Billboard reports that the above commercial has sparked a lawsuit in-between Megaupload and Universal Music Group.
The file sharing service claims that Universal Music Group had filed a takedown notice with Youtube for copyright infringement to have this video removed.
“Let us be clear: Nothing in our song or the video belongs to Universal Music Group,” said MegaUpload CEO David Robb. “We have signed agreements with all artists endorsing MegaUpload.”
RIAA and the artists featured on the video could not be contacted for comment by Billboard by the printing of their article.
IMSLP Attacked By UK Music Publishers
The International Music Score Library Project was knocked offline temporarily this week by a DMCA complaint by the Music Publisher’s Association (UK).
Appearently they had attempted to impose EU copyright laws on this Canadian site because the IMSLP had published Sergei Rachmaninoff‘s “The Bells, Op.35“, a score that is considered public domain in Canada and the United States.
This score had been originally published prior to 1923 and in countries where copyright is limited to 50 years after the death of the composer the material is public domain. In 1993 the European Union had adopted a term of 70 years instead of 50, resulting in a complaint in regards to this specific composition.
This incident has resulted in alot of discussions online in regards to Canada’s attempts to reform copyright and our conformity to international law.
Many Canadians are concerned that the European Union’s music publishers are attempting to impose their terms in Canada, the IMSLP having been previously subjected to a takedown in October 2007 by European classical music publishing firm Universal Edition over numerous compositions. And Canada is currently in talks with the European Union in regards to a free-trade pact, which includes discussions on intellectual property.
Youtube Wins
The United States District Court, Southern District of New York, has rules in Youtube‘s favor, against Viacom’s claims.
The court ruled that Youtube had taken sufficient measures to protect the copyrights of Viacom, in accordance to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, this site qualifying for protection from prosecution according to 17 U.S.C. ยง 512(c).
The ruling can be found by clicking here. And don’t forget to visit my Youtube channel.