Top Noteworthy Copyright Stories from January 2026 — “To kick off 2026, there were some big developments arising from two copyright cases in addition to two new AI copyright lawsuits being filed—bringing the number of total AI and copyright cases filed to around 75. Here is a quick snapshot of the top copyright news stories from January 2026.”
‘Ripping’ Clips for YouTube Reaction Videos can Violate the DMCA, Court Rules — “After hearing both sides, U.S. Magistrate Judge Virginia K. DeMarchi denied the motion to dismiss the DMCA circumvention claims, allowing the case to move forward on that claim. ‘Mr. Cordova has adequately pled that YouTube applies technological measures, including ‘rolling-cipher technology’ designed to prevent unauthorized downloading, to videos published on its platform that effectively control access to his videos for purposes of § 1201(a).’
Fighting online piracy in 2025: expanding copyright enforcement to new intermediaries — “Different undertakings in various jurisdictions are adopting strategies aimed at achieving faster and more effective enforcement mechanisms, with the objective of reducing the levels of piracy they face. The following sections analyse these developments, with particular attention to efforts to extend blocking injunctions to intermediaries beyond traditional Internet Service Providers, as well as the potential consequences of such strategies.”
Brazil’s AI take on Taylor Swift tests limits of copyright law — “A viral track removed from Spotify continues to circulate online, highlighting legal gray areas around AI, authorship and unfair competition in Brazil.”
How Anne Frank will (also) have a say on copyright enforcement in the age of AI — “If the CJEU embraces the approach recommended by AG Rantos (and AG Szpunar), there will be other important consequences. One for all could be to give (fuller) effect to inter alia Article 53(1)(c) of the AI Act. This provision indicates that providers of general-purpose AI models need to comply with EU copyright rules, irrespective of where the training of the AI model in question is undertaken.”