Copyright Law
Ongoing coverage on Copyright Law.
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Musisi Indonesia Berduka James F. Sundah Meninggal Dunia
Indonesian musician James F. Sundah has passed away at the age of 70 in New York. Known for the song 'Lilin Lilin Kecil' and as a staunch advocate for musicians' rights, his death was announced by his wife and has prompted widespread condolences from the Indonesian arts community. Sundah had been battling small cell lung cancer.
Pencipta Lagu Lilin Lilin Kecil James F. Sundah Meninggal Dunia
James F. Sundah, the legendary Indonesian songwriter best known for the song 'Lilin-Lilin Kecil,' passed away on May 7th at the age of 70 in New York. He had been battling small cell lung cancer and was undergoing treatment. Sundah was also recognized for his advocacy for musicians' rights and copyright law in Indonesia.
Video game lawyer implores devs to understand ownership and swerve generative AI
Video game lawyer Nick Allan advises independent developers to prioritize understanding intellectual property ownership and to avoid generative AI. He stressed the importance of written agreements with contractors and freelancers to secure IP rights. Allan also cautioned against using AI-generated assets due to potential ownership issues and difficulties in preventing copyright infringement.
Bored Ape NFT Lawsuit Settles, Affects Crypto Community
Yuga Labs has settled its copyright lawsuit against artists Ryder Ripps and Jeremy Cahen concerning the RR/BAYC NFT collection. The dispute centered on whether the collection constituted parody or infringed upon Yuga Labs' trademarks. The settlement prohibits Ripps and Cahen from using Yuga Labs' trademarks and imagery, setting a precedent for intellectual property rights in the NFT sector.
Sony hit with a lawsuit over a Fortnite dance
Sony Music Holdings is facing a lawsuit from choreographer Darrin Henson, who claims the company licensed his 'Bye, Bye, Bye' dance, famously used in the movie Deadpool & Wolverine and the game Fortnite, without his permission. Henson asserts he is the rightful owner of the choreography and seeks profits generated from its unauthorized use.
In the long list of awful things AI might lead to we can also add killing open-source software
Researchers Dylan Ayrey and Mike Nolan have demonstrated a method using AI to legally clone and relicense open-source software as proprietary. This "AI clean-rooming" raises significant concerns about the future of open-source development and copyright law. The article explores the implications and questions whether open-source software can survive this new technological capability.
The UK government backtracks on AI Copyright terms, somewhat saving gaming and other UK creatives – for now
The UK government has backtracked on its proposed copyright terms for Artificial Intelligence, creating ambiguity for the future of AI regulation and its impact on creative industries, including video games. The government's investigation into AI and copyright, which spanned from 2024 to early 2025, explored various options for data mining exceptions and licensing, aiming to balance AI innovation with the protection of creators' rights.
Senator Blackburn introduces the first draft of a federal AI bill
Senator Marsha Blackburn has introduced the first draft of a federal bill aimed at regulating artificial intelligence, focusing on protecting children, creators, and communities. The draft proposes a duty of care for AI developers, addresses copyright concerns regarding AI training data, and includes provisions for online safety for minors and transparency for AI-generated content.
UK reverses course on AI copyright position after backlash
The UK government has reversed its proposed stance on AI training data, abandoning a plan that would have allowed AI companies to use copyrighted materials without consent. Following backlash from artists like Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Dua Lipa, the government will now reconsider its approach to copyright law to balance the needs of creators and the tech industry.
Valve sued for allegedly using its musical works "without permission"
The Performing Right Society (PRS) has initiated legal proceedings against Valve, the owner of Steam. The lawsuit alleges that Valve has been using musical works belonging to PRS members on Steam without obtaining the necessary permissions.
Steam Faces Music Rights Lawsuit — Gaming’s Copyright Wars Heat Up
Valve is facing a lawsuit from The Performing Right Society, which alleges that Steam has been using its members' musical works without proper permission. This legal challenge could significantly impact how music rights are managed across the gaming industry and on digital platforms. The outcome may lead to new industry standards for music licensing in games.
Morning Legal Briefs
Workers from OpenAI and Google have filed an amicus brief supporting Anthropic in its legal dispute with the US government. Separately, Valve is facing a lawsuit from The Performing Right Society.
Steam Being Sued by UK Performing Right Society Over Music Rights
The UK's Performing Right Society (PRS) is suing Valve's Steam platform, alleging that it hosts games using music without proper licensing. PRS claims Valve has failed to obtain necessary licenses for music managed on behalf of its members, impacting games like Grand Theft Auto 5 and Forza Horizon. The lawsuit will proceed unless Valve engages in discussions to secure the required licenses.
Performing Right Society (PRS) sues Valve over video game music
Valve Corporation is being sued by the Performing Right Society (PRS) in the UK over music licensing for games sold on its Steam platform. PRS claims Valve has not engaged appropriately on licensing issues for years. This lawsuit is separate from other ongoing legal challenges Valve faces.
Meta's latest legal wheeze is to insist that pirating books is fair use, actually
Meta is arguing that using pirated books to train its AI models, specifically the Llama LLM, constitutes fair use, a defense that a Californian court previously accepted. The company faces a class-action lawsuit from authors who also allege copyright infringement through the downloading and sharing of these books via BitTorrent. Meta claims BitTorrent was essential for bulk data acquisition and that any uploading was incidental to the download process for its transformative purpose.
UK government delays AI copyright rules amid artist outcry
The UK government has delayed its proposed data bill concerning AI training on copyrighted materials following significant backlash from artists and creative industries. Concerns were raised that the bill would allow AI companies to use copyrighted works without consent, potentially harming creators' livelihoods. The government will reconsider its approach after a two-month consultation period.
AI Yi-Yi!
The United States Supreme Court has rejected an attempt to copyright wholly AI-generated art. This decision sets a precedent for the legal status of creative works produced entirely by artificial intelligence.
Attempt to get copyright on wholly AI-generated art gunned down by US Supreme Court
The US Supreme Court has declined to hear a case concerning copyright for AI-generated art, upholding previous rulings that human authorship is a requirement. This decision impacts the ability to copyright works created by AI systems like Stephen Thaler's DABUS, with potential consequences for AI development in the creative industry. The article also touches on related patent issues and the broader debate around intellectual property in the age of generative AI, noting a lawsuit by Ziff Davis against OpenAI.
AI-generated images still can't be copyrighted as US Supreme Court declines to hear case
The US Supreme Court has declined to hear a case concerning copyright for AI-generated images, upholding the US Copyright Office's decision that such works cannot be copyrighted. Computer scientist Stephen Thaler had sought copyright protection for an AI-generated image titled 'A Recent Entrance to Paradise'.
Nintendo strikes more emulators with DMCA takedown notices
Nintendo has issued a new wave of DMCA takedown notices to several emulators hosted on GitHub, including popular ones like Ryujinx and Suyu. This action follows previous legal cases against Yuzu and Tropic Haze, and Nintendo's recent tightening of its Account Agreement regarding emulation and piracy. Developers are exploring alternative hosting solutions as repositories face potential disabling.
