How one musician took on the world’s biggest TV network over copyright—and won — “You’ve heard Kerry Muzzey’s work (Bandcamp, Spotify), even if you haven’t heard of him. The 50-year-old classical music composer from Joliet, Illinois, who now lives in Los Angeles, produces haunting orchestral scores that soundtrack some of the most poignant moments in film and television. When Finn Hudson kissed Rachel Berry for the first time on TV’s Glee, it was Muzzey’s stripped-back piano playing in the background. Some of his works have been choreographed and performed on So You Think You Can Dance?, too.”
RIAA: Not Even Improper YouTube ‘Rolling Cipher’ Complaints Can Be Countered — Torrentfreak‘s Andy Maxwell reports, “In response to a lawsuit filed by YouTube-ripping service Yout, the RIAA is doubling down on its assertion that YouTube’s rolling cipher is indeed an ‘effective technological measure’ under the DMCA. The music industry group also states that seeking remedy for improper takedown notices under the DMCA is not possible since the relevant law does not penalize anti-circumvention complaints.”
Three New Year’s Resolutions for Songwriters — The US Copyright Office’s Holland Gormley provides helpful tips to musicians to make sure they take full advantage of changes in the law that went into effect at the start of 2021.
Google, French publishers sign copyright news payment deal — According to the Associated Press, “Google has signed a deal with a group of French publishers paving the way for the internet giant to make digital copyright payments for online news content. . . . The company was forced to negotiate with publishers and news agencies for reusing their material online under a ‘neighboring rights’ law that took effect after France became the first country to adopt new European Union copyright rules.”
Redbubble Keeps Win in ‘Lettuce Turnip the Beet’ Trademark Case — In “Trademarking phrases to use on t-shirts” news, “Online print-on-demand marketplace Redbubble Inc. again defeated LTTB LLC’s claims that its sale of t-shirts and other wares with the phrase ‘Lettuce Turnip the Beet’ infringed LTTB’s trademark rights when the Ninth Circuit affirmed Wednesday that the phrase failed to function as a trademark.”