The Copykat - A Grumpy Truthful Cat Extends Its Claws

The iii exceptions that the Pan-Democrats are seeking to add together to the novel copyright mouth inward Hong Kong are also broad, according to Copyright Tribunal deputy chairman Anthony Tong Tat-hay, who sought to allay spider web users’ concerns over civil together with criminal lawsuits. Instead of opposing the bill, which volition live tabled to the Legislative Council he added, the populace should convey it together with and thence overstep away along to press for farther consultation already pledged past times officials. Tong said the Hong Kong law’s adoption of the British model for specifying what acts are to live exempted nether a “fair dealing” doctrine (for parody, satire, caricature, pastiche, reporting together with commenting on electrical flow resultant together with quotation) is preferable to the U.S.A. approach of a blanket “fair use” exemption, which meshwork users tell offers the close protection. As to the exception for user generated content (UGC) Tong said  “It is imprudent to adopt UGC every bit it is withal a guinea Sus scrofa overseas [in Canada]“ adding "As responsible lawmakers, when it comes to a novel law, they should non rush into it.” The 3rd proposed exception of contract override, which would confine contractual damage from overriding exceptions for parody, caricature together with pastiche, would non direct deport on halt users, Tong said.  More here and here and hither (in Chinese). To the frustration of government, opposition lawmakers inward Hong Kong lastly managed to force dorsum give-and-take of the proposed Copyright (Amendment) 2014 mouth until adjacent year.

Ok Kat fans: Grumpy Cat Limited, the society behind the ever-angry feline, filed a lawsuit against java society Grenade Beverage LLC  for copyright together with trademark infringement every bit good every bit trademark dilution, cybersquatting, breach of contract, together with accounting. The lawsuit demands Grenade to halt using Grumpy Cat naming together with imagery for products together with sales, together with seeks damages inward the Californian federal court. The java society also operate the domain refer grumpycat.com. Grumpy Cat picture by Gage Skidmore.

A Virginia federal jury has reached it's verdict (PDF), ordering Cox Communications to pay $25 i G k to BMG Rights Management for turning a blind oculus to music piracy amongst the jury finding that the company's demeanour amounted to a willfully infringed copyright. In what could live a landmark copyright case, an Internet access provider loses its "safe harbor." The verdict comes at the unopen of a two-week trial, which took house subsequently U.S.A. District Judge Liam O'Grady issued an sentiment (PDF) slamming Cox's behavior, maxim that the Internet access provider isn't protected past times the Digital Millennium Copyright Act "safe harbor" because the society did non "reasonably 
implement" a policy to give notice repeat infringers. More on ArtsTechnica here.

Abbott & Costello

Music Week reports that three Members of U.S.A. Congress receive got introduced a mouth aimed at modernising together with changing the condition of the country's Copyright Office. The bill, known every bit the Copyright Office for the Digital Economy Act or the CODE Act, is sponsored past times Congresswoman Judy Chu, Congressman Tom Marino together with Congresswoman Barbara Comstock. The draft mouth was offset released inward June and, next months of give-and-take amongst diverse stakeholders, it directly reflects "a consensus across diverse industries together with populace involvement groups,” according to the sponsors of the legislation. The CODE Act would "ensure that our solid ground has a Copyright Office that reflects the 21st century,” according to Congresswoman Chu.

A federal approximate has dimissed claims past times the heirs to Abbott together with Costello against the producers of a Broadway play inward which a graphic symbol uses a sock puppet to perform constituent of the comedians’ famous “Who’s on First” routine. The copyright holders sued “Hand to God” producers, promoters together with playwright Robert Askins inward the Manhattan federal courtroom for copyright infringement. Federal Judge George Daniels inward Manhattan rejected the lawsuit Thursday, maxim the play transforms the master copy routine plenty that it does non violate copyrights. The lawsuit had claimed the play “copied the real heart” of “Who’s on First.”

And finally, The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has filed criminal charges against MTN Nigeria Communication together with its Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Ferdi Moolman, over alleged copyright infringements. In the two-count-charge, MTN together with Moolman are alleged to receive got infringed on copies of the musical locomote of an Abuja based musician, Dovie Omenuwoma-Eniwo (aka Baba 2010). More here.