In the News

Here Comes Another Takedown

Wendy Seltzer, December 19, 2007
Abstract: Earlier this month, comedy group The Richter Scales released a funny music video, "Here Comes Another Bubble." The video showed a montage of Silicon Valley images over a sound-track adapted from Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire," lampooning the Web 2.0 bubble that seems near bursting again. The video must have touched a nerve, as well as a funny bone, because it got wide linkage and discussion and became the week's top-rated video.

Then, it was removed from YouTube, "due to a copyright claim by a third party."
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Prince Threatens to Sue Fansites

Peter Ostrovski, November 12, 2007
Abstract: Prince is threatening to sue his biggest fansites for improperly hosting content featuring his likeness.
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Sen. McCain Calls Fair Use on Fox

Associated Press, October 26, 2007
Abstract: The Associated Press reports that presidential candidate John McCain has rejected Fox's call to "cease and desist" from using Fox debate footage in a campaign ad.

Fox is apparently claiming infringement by the use of 18 seconds from a 90 minute debate, in which Sen. McCain is the speaker. Political argument, even in the heated sound-bite form of campaign ads, is at the core of First-Amendment protected speech. This kind of commentary use, of newsworthy material available only from Fox, suggests that not only McCain, but the general public should have greater access to debate footage.
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LimeWire Strikes Back against the RIAA (Cartel?)

Sarah Simmons, Samuelson Law, Technology & Public Policy Clinic, UC-Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall), October 13, 2006
Abstract: LimeWire appears to be fighting back hard against the RIAA. In answer to the RIAA’s August lawsuit against LimeWire (Arista v. LimeWire), LimeWire has responded aggressively with a counterclaim against the RIAA alleging illegal cartel formation resulting in antitrust violations, consumer fraud, and other misconduct.
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Suit Alleges Illegal Use of 'Charging Bull' Image

Dow Jones/the Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, September 22, 2006
Abstract: The artist who created Wall Street's famed "Charging Bull" statue has filed a copyright suit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc., North Fork Bancorp and others over their use of images of the bull.
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Worst DRM scheme ever? Sony BMG CDs install unremovable hidden software that leaves users? computers vulnerable to malicious attacks.

Samuelson Law, Technology & Public Policy Clinic, November 5, 2005
Abstract: It was a cold day for music lovers when security experts discovered that recent CDs released by Sony BMG Music Entertainment contain a DRM scheme that threatens to compromise the security of consumers’ computers. The DRM scheme is enforced by the automatic installation of a software program the first time a user inserts one of the protected CDs into a computer. Unfortunately, the poorly executed software leaves a significant security hole on users’ computers that may be exploited by malicious programs, and is difficult to remove because it employs methods similar to those used by spyware and other malicious software to thwart detection and removal. Removal of the software, provided that a user actually manages to figure out how, disables the CD-ROM drive on the computer. After much outcry, Sony BMG has released a “fix”; however, questions linger as to the software update, which does not actually remove the DRM software.
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