Thousands Rally In “We Are Not Bots Rally” Protesting EU Copyright Directive. An estimated 5,000 braved the cold in Berlin on March 2 to protest the upload filter provisions in Article 13 of the EU Copyright Directive. According to a report by GlobalVoices, it was the third in a series of protests leading up to a day of European Union-wide protests on March 23. The founder and editor-in-chief of media activism site netzpolitik.org told the crowd, “We are not against copyright. But we are against compulsory upload filters!” as they held signs stating “We are not bots,” and “Save the Internet.”
Boldly Supporting Fair Use Of Seuss. U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino has ruled that ComicMix’s Star Trek and Dr. Seuss mashup, titled Oh, the Places You’ll Boldly Go!, is a fair use of Dr. Seuss’ Oh, the Places You’ll Go. According to a Hollywood Reporter story, Judge Sammartino sided with ComicMix, ruling that “‘elements borrowed were always adapted or transformed’” so the work, “‘while commercial, is highly transformative.’” The ruling found that Oh, the Places You’ll Boldly Go! successfully satisfied other fair use factors so it is unlikely to harm the market for other Dr. Seuss works. The copyright ruling follows ComicMix’s win in a trademark case last year concerning the same crowdfunded book project.
U.S. Copyright Office Holding Section 512 Roundtable On April 8. The U.S. Copyright Office will hold a public roundtable for its study on section 512 on April 8 at the Library of Congress’s Madison Building in Washington, D.C. Stay tuned for more from the Re:Create Coalition as stakeholders prepare to participate in strong support for the current DMCA safe harbor provisions that enable online platforms that support creativity and economic growth.
Ben Folds Launches Patreon For Exclusive Fan Access. Singer-songwriter Ben Folds launched a Patreon profile to provide extra, exclusive content for his biggest fans, reported Variety. “Like all recording artists, I’ve kept my eye on what creative tools the internet might afford. Patreon is unique, ever developing, and above all, it’s a platform that interests me,” Folds wrote. “I’ve spent an entire career traveling, coming to your towns to play music. Now I’m inviting you to my place.” Based on how much members give – from $5-20 per month – Folds’ Patreon supporters will receive exclusive access including unreleased recordings and access to a monthly livestream from his home and studio.
UN Official Warns EU Copyright Directive Would Harm Freedom Of Expression. As the EU prepares for a vote on the controversial EU Copyright Directive later this month, Forbes contributor Emma Woollacott reported that UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression David Kaye has raised concerns with the policy’s impact on freedom of expression. In a statement, Kaye warned of the upload filters provisions: “Such sweeping pressure for pre-publication filtering is neither a necessary nor proportionate response to copyright infringement online.” Kaye’s statement highlighted the potential impact for new creators, asking the question: “Who would bear the brunt of this practice? Typically it would be creators and artists, who lack the resources to litigate such claims.”