Next Week: Copyright Week 2019. Electronic Frontier Foundation will host its annual Copyright Week from January 14 through 18 to mark the anniversary of the SOPA/PIPA internet blackout. Each day is dedicated to a different theme, including free speech, digital ownership, public domain, safe harbors and automated content filtering. New York Times: “New Life For Old Classics, As Their Copyrights…

By Dr. Alan Inouye, Senior Director, Public Policy & Government Relations, American Library Association In the last three weeks, American Library Association (ALA) members have a record number of emails to their senators in opposition to the Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act (S. 1010). The bill, which ALA has unequivocally opposed, has been set for committee votes that…

New Copy This Podcast: “Article 13 Is A Clear Descendant Of SOPA/PIPA.” The 15th episode of the Copy This podcast takes up the public fight against the European Union Copyright Directive and its controversial Article 13 content filtering proposal with copyright policy advisor Paul Keller. The podcast helps explain why the copyright directive is one of the biggest and riskiest…

DIVERSE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS OPPOSE S. 1010 AS A NEEDLESS POLITICIZATION OF THE COPYRIGHT OFFICE THAT WILL HARM ITS OPERATION As members of the U.S. Senate consider S. 1010, the Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act, Re:Create urges them to oppose this effort to make the Register of Copyrights a presidentially-appointed position. Below are key points to breakdown why these…

4 Million More Reasons To Oppose The EU Copyright Directive. With final language on the controversial EU Copyright Directive expected to emerge any day now, a petition opposing the filtering proposal has been signed by more than four million Europeans and was delivered to negotiators on Monday. In a blog for the Electronic Frontier Foundation on the petition, Cory Doctorow…

Lame Duck Developments On Register Of Copyrights Bill. Techdirt’s Mike Masnick penned a column on attempts to push S.1010 through the lame duck session. The bill would make the Register of Copyrights a presidentially-appointed position, “which would effectively politicize the office at a time when the last thing we should want is a Copyright Office that is bowing to the…

New Copy This Podcast Episode: Do You Know How To #dotheshiggy? In the latest Copy This podcast, host Kirby Ferguson examines the popularity of Drake’s hit song “In My Feelings” and copyright’s role in helping it become a viral dance craze. The episode also features insight from music business executive, cultural critic, and media professor Casey Rae. Tune in to…

Re:Create Members Promote Importance Of New Creative Economy In IPEC Filings. As the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) formulates its Joint Strategic Plan for 2019-2021, the Re:Create Coalition and a number of its members filed comments about the importance of balancing the interests of rights holders with innovation and the creative economy. See here for filing highlights. RSVP: CTA…

Highlights from Re:Create Coalition Members’ Comments on IPEC Joint Strategic Plan WASHINGTON—As the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) formulates its Joint Strategic Plan for 2019-2021, the Re:Create Coalition and a number of its members and allies filed comments about the importance of balancing the interests of rights holders with innovation and the creative economy. See below for a compilation…

Stairway To Heaven Case Forces RIAA To Twist Own Position. In another interesting twist in the high profile “Stairway to Heaven” copyright case, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) filed an amicus brief asking the Ninth Circuit to reconsider a September decision complaining that the current ruling “badly overprotects.” According to a report by Law360, the case now has…