The DMCA Works: Reddit & GitHub Release Transparency Reports. TorrentFreak reported on both Reddit and GitHub’s recently released transparency reports, including the number of copyright takedown notices in 2019. Though there was a significant increase in the number of Reddit takedown notices, 27% of them were denied because no actual infringement was found, among other reasons. “While this might be…

DMCA Original Bill Author Praises Its Record Of Success. Senator Patrick Leahy, an original co-author of the the bipartisan bill highlighted its success in opening remarks at the hearing: “The DMCA has been a success for 22 years…Congress needs to ensure any adjustments are balanced and protect innovation and copyright.” ReCreate Coalition Lauds DMCA’s Bipartisan Origins, Continued Effectiveness. Following the…

Media Outlet Fears Bankruptcy Due To Excessive Statutory Damages In Copyright. The Orange County Breeze, a southern California online news outlet detailed the challenges it faced after receiving a DMCA takedown notice for a low-resolution photo published with an article years ago. While conducting an internal review of other potential copyright liability, the publisher informed readers the outlet was suspending…

Save The Date: Copyright Week 2020: The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) will host its annual Copyright Week celebration January 20-24. Focusing on the themes of fair use and creativity, copyright and competition, remedies, the public domain and copyright and democracy, the focused week is an opportunity to comment and engage with others about the need for balanced and fair copyright…

Librarian Of Congress Names Maria Strong As Acting Register of Copyrights. The Re:Create Coalition issued a statement in support of Maria Strong after Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden named her as Acting Register of Copyrights and Director of Copyright Policy On December 18. “Maria brings to this position a decade of service at the U.S. Copyright Office, and we look…

How Copyright Trolls Work In Practice. Techdirt highlighted how copyright trolls take advantage of ordinary Americans’ lack of legal knowledge to demand more money than is even allowable under the law. In some cases, a rightsholder can only obtain “actual damages” rather than statutory damages, which must exclude attorney’s fees. Because most Americans aren’t certain of the law, they just…

CASE Act A Prime Target For Abuse. Radio and Television Business Report (RBR+TVBR) elevated concerns with the CASE Act and how it could open opportunities for copyright trolls looking to abuse the new system. While Dorsey & Whitney partner Fara Sunderji acknowledged that the bill was crafted to make it easier for copyright owners to assert their rights, he also…

Re:Create Urges Senate To Fix CASE Act: Following approval of the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act of 2019 by the House of Representatives, the Re:Create Coalition issued a statement urging the Senate to fix the “disastrous” bill. “The CASE Act will expose ordinary Americans to tens of thousands of dollars in damages for things most of us do…

The CASE Act won’t actually help artists and small creators Kerry Maeve Sheehan, Authors Alliance: “While this opt-out procedure is supposed to provide some protection for the accused, there’s a strong likelihood that authors, educators, and small creators without sophisticated legal knowledge or representation may not fully understand the implications and may ignore the notice – ending up on the…

The Case Against the CASE Act: What You Need To Know The Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act of 2019 (HR 2426) would establish a small claims court for copyright claims. Unfortunately, this legislation is both unconstitutional and would place a huge financial strain on individuals, small businesses and nonprofits across the United States. Congress must reject the CASE Act…