U.S. Copyright Office Operations Updates During the COVID-19 Pandemic — The Copyright Office has created a dedicated page that continually updates with COVID-19 related Office news, such as temporary changes to timing provisions for certain copyright registrations and notices of termination.
An Exhaustive Guide to Coronavirus-Relief Resources for the Music Community — Variety has compiled a set of resources for musicians and songwriters to help them through the pandemic. One of the biggest is Music Covid Relief, a resource supported by over 50 U.S. music organizations.
Hollywood’s Army of Craftspeople Take on COVID-19: ‘We’re the MacGyvers of This Industry’ — “Like virtually everyone in the motion picture industry, costumers and set designers cannot work due to social distancing. As infection counts climbed and news of shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) began to surface, people wanted to help. ‘Members started reaching out to me about these desperate pleas for PPE for medical professionals,’ recalls Brown. Though it surely feels longer, that started in the middle of last week. ‘I put a post on Facebook, a call to arms.’ Following an email solicitation to the #705 membership, about 130 people had enlisted.”
‘Emergency’ Online Library Draws Ire of Some Authors — The New York Times reports, “Some early positive coverage of the project noted that it was filling a void, making books accessible at a time when many libraries and bookstores across the country have closed. But authors quickly began criticizing the effort, calling it piracy masquerading as public service. Some argued that the free online library would deprive authors and publishers of royalty payments — at a moment when sales are declining and many writers are struggling.”