Court Confirms Georgia’s Laws Not Protected By Copyright. On October 19, a federal appeals court ruled that annotations of Georgia’s legal code are “intrinsically public domain material” and cannot be copyrighted. The Associated Press explained the case’s background after the state of Georgia sued an internet nonprofit for allowing online access to Georgia’s laws to people for free. “The resulting work is intrinsically public domain material, belonging to the People, and, as such, must be free for publication by all,” wrote the opinion. “As a result, no valid copyright can subsist in these works.”
YouTube Calls For Creator Action Against Article 13 in EU. In a quarterly letter to creators, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki called attention to the harmful impacts Article 13, the EU Parliament’s controversial content filtering proposal, will have on millions of people and their ability to upload content. “This legislation poses a threat to both your livelihood and your ability to share your voice with the world. And, if implemented as proposed, Article 13 threatens hundreds of thousands of jobs, European creators, businesses, artists and everyone they employ,” Wojcicki wrote in her October 22 letter. With a final vote on the proposal coming up in January, the letter also urges creators to share their story on social media using #SaveYourInternet.
Copyright Office Seeks Input On Copyright Registration Modernization. As the Library of Congress moves forward with modernization efforts under the leadership of Dr. Carla Hayden, the Copyright Office has published a notice of inquiry requesting written comments on how to improve registration of copyright claims in the digital age. Issued on October 17, the notice recognized that its registration services “are vital to creators and users of creative works,” and stated it is considering several legal and policy changes as it works towards a “modern solution that aims to improve user experience, increase Office efficiency, and decrease processing times.” Additional information and instructions are available here.
Bargain Hunters Turn Love Of Thrifting Into Extra Income. The Columbus Dispatch profiled a number of local residents who turned their love of thrift store shopping into an online side-hustle. 24-year-old Savannah Ward resells vintage furniture on her Instagram business, and her 200-2,000% profits help to supplement her income as a middle school teacher. Meanwhile, Dayton-area resident Maggie Leadman has been selling vintage clothing online since 2005 — transitioning over the years from eBay to Etsy and Instagram.