In The News

["Olga Francois" <OFrancois@xxxxxxxx>]

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Google book-scanning efforts spark debate
By MICHAEL LIEDTKE, SIliconvalley.com, Dec. 20, 2006
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/16281394.htm

"SAN FRANCISCO - Already facing a legal challenge for alleged copyright
infringement, Google Inc.'s crusade to build a digital library has
triggered a philosophical debate with an alternative project promising
better online access to the world's books, art and historical documents.
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New Software Will Scan Web for Content Copyright Violations
By E&P Staff, Editor & Publisher.com, December 18, 2006
http://tinyurl.com/y98pwp

"NEW YORK A new online tool has been developed by the California-based
Attributor Corp. to help publishers and other content producers scan the
internet for possible copyright violations, according to an article in
the Wall Street Journal."
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Growth of copyright alternative sought
By ANICK JESDANUN, Business Week.com, December 20, 2006
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/tech/D8M4SBA80.htm

"A group that encourages musicians, artists and other creators to make
their works more widely available for sharing and innovation is trying
to make a greater push in the commercial arena.
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Sony BMG Settles Suit Over CDs
By ALEX VEIGA, Associated Press, December 19, 2006
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/19/AR200612
1900774.html

"LOS ANGELES -- Sony BMG Music Entertainment will pay $1.5 million and
kick in thousands more in customer refunds to settle lawsuits brought by
California and Texas over music CDs that installed a hidden anti-piracy
program on consumers' computers."
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INTERVIEW - French music lobby says copyright law is unfinished
By Astrid Wendlandt, Reuters.com, Dec 19, 2006
http://tinyurl.com/yj2vzt

"PARIS (Reuters) - France's controversial copyright law aimed at
fighting Internet piracy is a "work in progress" and cannot be the final
solution for the struggling industry, an influential French music lobby
group said on Tuesday."
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Web Sites Not Deemed Liable For Content Posted By Others
By Eric Sinrod,  FindLaw.com,
http://technology.findlaw.com/articles/00006/010536.html

"Web site providers can take a deep breath - the California Supreme
Court has ruled that they are not legally responsible for content posted
by third-parties on their sites."
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Australian court rules against MP3 link site: Judges say now-defunct
MP3s4free.net violated the law by linking to copyright music, even
though it didn't host any MP3s itself.
By Anne Broache, CNET News.com, December 18, 2006
http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-6144590.html

"update Linking to copyright music posted elsewhere online without
permission can be illegal, an Australian appeals court ruled Monday."
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China: Radio, TV stations to pay copyright fees
By China Daily, (CRI), 2006-12-18
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-12/18/content_761941.htm

"Guidelines for collecting copyright fees from TV and radio stations may
be issued next year, according to an official from the National
Copyright Association."
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Copyright holders sign China piracy agreement: National Copyright
Administration of China is a party to memorandum
By Steven Schwankert, IDG News Service, December 17, 2006
http://tinyurl.com/y7o7ja

"Industry groups for producers of copyrighted material, including the
Business Software Alliance (BSA) and the Motion Picture Association
(MPA), signed an agreement on Friday with the National Copyright
Administration of China (NCAC) for protection against Internet piracy in
China."
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Are Copyright Royalties "Out of Whack"?
By Wes Phillips , Streophile, December 17, 2006
http://www.stereophile.com/news/121806whack/

"In the heated debate over new digital technologies and their impact
upon the traditional recording distribution system, we've grown used to
intemperate dialog, but an organization now charges that "mechanical
royalties currently are out of whack with historical and international
rates."
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Anti-piracy tool dubbed MediaHedge
By Associated Press, Canadian Press, December 18, 2006
http://www.canada.com/topics/finance/story.html?id=3092cf7c-c1bb-40a4-81
f7-be004d3f97f2&k=44003

"LOS ANGELES (AP) - Philips Electronics is launching a service Thursday
to help websites and online file-sharing networks filter out
unauthorized copyright video files."
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Botswana: Copyright Law Put At Center Stage
By Ephraim Keoreng, Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone), December 15, 2006
http://allafrica.com/stories/200612150997.html

"The recent workshop organised by the International Intellectual
Property Institute (IIPI), Botswana Musicians Union and the Ministry of
Trade and Industry on implementing the copyright society and
strengthening copyright law in Botswana is testimony to Botswana's
growing music industry."