3 Count: Not World Series

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1: RCN Hits Out at “Copyright Troll” Film Producers in Bid to Get Safe Harbor Case Dismissed

First off today, Chris Cooke at Complete Music Update reports that U.S. internet service provider (ISP) RCN is joining its rivals in hitting back against a group of film producers suing them by calling the group a “copyright troll.”

The producers in question teamed up with the anti-piracy firm Maverickeye to file a lawsuit against two smaller ISPs, WOW and RCN. They argue that these companies have not done though to deter infringement on their networks, in particular when it comes to repeat infringers.

However, RCN is joining up with WOW in calling these groups “copyright trolls” and saying that they only recently turned their attention from “John Doe” lawsuits against suspected infringers to the ISPs themselves. However, the cases closely mirror ones filed by against larger ISPs that, in general, have gone well for the plaintiffs.

2: French Government Creates New Online Anti-Piracy Body

Next up today, Mathieu Pollett at EURACTIV reports that, under a new law adopted by the French Parliament in September, the country is creating a new anti-piracy body that will begin operations in January.

The organization, named Arcom, will replace and broaden the scope of the current authority, the High Authority for the Distribution and Protection of Intellectual Property on the Internet (HADOPI). It is looking to retain the “graduated response” system for dealing with repeat individual infringers and expand into blacklisting infringing websites and help rightsholders file criminal cases.

The move comes after a 2019 report showed that HADOPI had collected just €87,000 in fines over the prior eight years. This is dwarfed by the organization’s estimated €82 million in operating costs during the same period.

3: San Antonio Police Officer Drops Copyright-Infringement Lawsuit Over Atlanta Braves’ Tomahawk Logo

Finally today, Patrick Danner at the San Antonio Express-News reports that a Jose Antonio Rodriguez has dropped his lawsuit against the Major League Baseball team the Atlanta Braves.

Rodriguez sued the team in August alleging that, back in 2002, he created a stylized version of the Braves logo for a high school art class. He then claims to have sent the work to the team, but that the work was sent back with a brief rejection. However, according to Rodriguez, despite the rejection, the team began to use a logo similar to his work in their promotional material and merchandise.

He says he originally wanted to take action against the team in 2007 but couldn’t find the painting. After locating it in 2019, he opted to move ahead. However, he has now dismissed the suit without prejudice, meaning he could refile it if desired.

The 3 Count Logo was created by Justin Goff and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.