Sat.Dec 04, 2021 - Fri.Dec 10, 2021

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Understanding the Shopify Textbook Piracy Lawsuit

Plagiarism Today

Last week, five major education publishers filed a lawsuit against Shopify alleging that the ecommerce service provider has enabled rampant commercial textbook piracy on its platform. According to the publishers, which include Macmillan Learning, Cengage Learning, Elsevier, McGraw Hill and Pearson Education, they have sent more than 32,000 takedown notices to Shopify over allegations ebook piracy only for the company to throw up roadblocks to getting content removed and have the company fail to

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Books and Supply Chains: A Christmas Challenge for Authors, Publishers and Booksellers

Hugh Stephens Blog

On October 22, the Malta registered giant container ship Zim Kingston, enroute from South Korea to Vancouver, lost 109 containers overboard in heavy seas off the coast of Vancouver Island. Although four containers washed ashore further north up the coast, most are assumed to have sunk.

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Preventing Trademark Problems is Like Preventing Cavities

Erik K Pelton

10The following is an edited transcript of my video, Preventing Trademark Problems is Like Preventing Cavities. Preventing trademark problems is like preventing cavities. lieve that is for two reasons. One is doing the work of taking care of my teeth: brushing, flossing, visiting the dentist regularly. A fair share probably is due to genetics, because I know other people in my family have had no or very few cavities as well.

Trademark 147
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Google Features YTS and 123movies as “Best Movie Websites”

TorrentFreak

To help hundreds of millions of people find what they search for, Google has implemented some nifty features over the years. In addition to providing a list of web results, Google often shows related questions and popular topics, which should make it easier to discover new content. These features are based on algorithms that are not always aware of the intricate nuances of today’s web.

Copyright 145
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Software Composition Analysis: The New Armor for Your Cybersecurity

Speaker: Blackberry, OSS Consultants, & Revenera

Software is complex, which makes threats to the software supply chain more real every day. 64% of organizations have been impacted by a software supply chain attack and 60% of data breaches are due to unpatched software vulnerabilities. In the U.S. alone, cyber losses totaled $10.3 billion in 2022. All of these stats beg the question, “Do you know what’s in your software?

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7 Takeaways from YouTube’s Copyright Transparency Report

Plagiarism Today

Yesterday, YouTube published its first every Copyright Transparency Report. With that step, it follows in the footsteps of Google , Facebook , Reddit and other major industry players in publishing such a report. However, YouTube’s first report comes out in a very different context than the others. While it’s interesting to see the amount and kinds of copyright notices other providers see, YouTube has faced far more copyright criticism than those companies.

Reporting 262
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Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and copyright

WIPO Magazine

This year, NFTs (non-fungible token), the latest hype in the world of distributed ledgers and cryptocurrencies, have taken the art and tech worlds by storm. But what are the implications for copyright, if any?

More Trending

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UK IPO launches call for views on Standard Essential Patents, innovation and competition

The IPKat

Image: gov.uk As published today on gov.uk, the UK's Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has launched a call for views on Standard Essential Patents (SEPs), intended to inform the position on whether the present framework requires change in order to best support innovation. This is a highly topical issue, with methods or devices which utilise technology that is essential to implementing a standard often being protected by patents, running the risk that a third-party manufacturer would be unable t

Patent 143
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Why Spotify Removed So Many Comedy Albums

Plagiarism Today

Last week, Spotify removed a slew of popular comedians from their service including John Mulaney, Kevin Hart, Lewis Black and Tiffany Haddish to name just a few. The move was abrupt and left both the comedians and their fans in a lurch. However, the move didn’t come completely out of nowhere. It’s actually a battle that has been brewing for several years but has only now reached a tipping point.

Music 227
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Trademarks in outer space: supporting the off-world economy

WIPO Magazine

As private companies like Virgin Galactic, SpaceX and Blue Origin signal a shift from space exploration to commercialization, is the time ripe to re-visit trademarks and other intellectual property rights in space?

Trademark 141
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Trademark Protection for eSports and Gamers

Erik K Pelton

The brands of many professional online gamers have millions of followers and huge profits from endorsements, advertising, merchandise, and more, yet many of them are not protected. Erik provides some trademark tips and guidance for the eSports industry that is applicable to other brand owners, influences, and businesses as well. The post Trademark Protection for eSports and Gamers appeared first on Erik M Pelton & Associates, PLLC.

Trademark 133
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IPO Diversity in Innovation Toolkit

Women and diverse employees have the technical skill and knowledge, yet their contributions are not patented at the same rate as those of their male counterparts.This toolkit can help organizations move the needle on achieving gender parity in innovation.

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Russia Blocks TorProject.org and Begins Blocking of Wider Tor Network

TorrentFreak

In an effort to control what its citizens can and cannot access on the internet, Russia continues to develop systems for denying access to websites and services. From copyright infringing content to terrorist propaganda (and whatever the government deems offensive in between), Russia is determined to implement restrictions on Internet users, regardless of the broader implications.

Reporting 140
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3 Count: Mythical Infringement

Plagiarism Today

Have any suggestions for the 3 Count? Let me know via Twitter @plagiarismtoday. 1: Steam Removes Popular Chinese Strategy Game After Ark: Survival Evolved Studio Claims it Stole Their Source Code. First off today, Andy Chalk at PC Gamer reports that the popular Chinese-made strategy game Myth of Empires has been removed from Steam following a claim from Studio Wildcard, the team behind the game Ark: Survival Evolved.

Copyright 226
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Save the Date! Free Webinar Tomorrow (12/8/21) on Radio Royalties and the American Music Fairness Act

The Trichordist

Learn about Radio Royalties and the American Music Fairness Act from industry stakeholders and experts during this FREE educational webinar sponsored by: Austin Music Foundation, Austin Texas… Read more "Save the Date! Free Webinar Tomorrow (12/8/21) on Radio Royalties and the American Music Fairness Act".

Music 134
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The PTAB Desperately Needs Reform, Not Preservation

IP Watchdog

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), created by the America Invents Act (AIA) just over 10 years ago, is the most electrifying lightning rod in the industry. As explained repeatedly by Members of Congress at the time the AIA was enacted, the purpose was to create a streamlined, less expensive, alternative administrative means to challenge the invalidity of issued patents.

Invention 124
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Toei YouTube Blitz Shows That ‘Law of Content ID’ Can Trample Fair Use

TorrentFreak

The 634K-subscriber YouTube channel ‘Totally Not Mark’ is in peril this morning after what can be described as a copyright takedown blitz by Japan-based animation company Toei. Famous for the Dragon Ball and One Piece series, among others, Toei Animation’s products are regularly reviewed in quite remarkable depth and detail by manga fanatic Mark Fitzpatrick, whose channel has in excess of 124 million views.

Fair Use 136
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3 Count: NFT Repeat

Plagiarism Today

Have any suggestions for the 3 Count? Let me know via Twitter @plagiarismtoday. 1: YouTuber Hit With 150 Copyright Claims For Reviews Featuring Anime Footage. First off today, Brian Ashcraft at Kotaku reports that YouTuber Mark Fitzpatrick, better known as Totally Not Mark, says that he does not know what is next after the anime studio Toei has filed copyright claims against some 150 of the videos on his channel.

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EPO user survey: ViCo oral proceedings continue (to divide opinion)

The IPKat

Following the decision of the EBA in G 1/21 on the legality of mandatory ViCo oral proceedings, the EPO has continued with ViCo proceedings before the Boards of Appeal. The EPO has also now released a report of the user survey of the opposition division (OD) ViCo pilot program. As with the EBA decision in G 1/21 , both supporters and critics of ViCo oral proceedings will find evidence in the report to bolster their position.

Reporting 124
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Unlocking IP-backed financing in Singapore*

WIPO Magazine

Andre Toh, the author of a new report, the first in a new WIPO series, discusses Singapore’s experience in developing a multifaceted ecosystem to help businesses maximize the potential of their IP assets.

IP 122
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DNS-Resolver Quad9 Loses First Pirate Site Blocking Appeal in Germany

TorrentFreak

Earlier this year, Germany’s largest Internet providers agreed to voluntarily block pirate sites as part of a deal they struck with copyright holders. These blockades, which are put in place following a thorough vetting process, are generally implemented on the DNS level. This is a relatively easy option, as all ISPs have their own DNS resolvers.

Music 134
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3 Count: Spare Time

Plagiarism Today

Have any suggestions for the 3 Count? Let me know via Twitter @plagiarismtoday. 1: Major Publishers Sue Shopify, Alleging Copyright Violations. First off today, Suzanne Smalley at Inside Higher Ed reports that five major textbook publishers have teamed up to file a lawsuit against Shopify over allegations that the ecommerce platform is enabling rampant piracy.

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Hong Kong - Public Consultation on Updating Copyright Regime

The IPKat

The Government of Hong Kong has released a public consultation paper on updating Hong Kong’s copyright regime on 24 November 2021. Members of the public are invited to provide their views by 23 February 2022. Basic Background to the Existing Copyright Regime To those who are not familiar with the laws of Hong Kong, copyright is governed by the Copyright Ordinance (Cap. 528) (“ the Ordinance ”).

Copyright 122
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Inventing Chaos with the Moderna/NIH Dispute

IP Watchdog

Moderna and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are poised for a legal battle over inventorship of a vaccine for COVID-19. While a court may resolve the dispute over inventorship for the patent application, court review of current inventorship rules could be a slippery slope to chaos. Moderna and NIH collaborated on developing a functional vaccine for COVID-19, which is not in dispute.

Invention 122
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Hollywood, Netflix, Amazon & Apple Sue Two Pirate IPTV Providers in the US

TorrentFreak

Despite an increasing number of lawsuits, raids and seizures around the world, many pirate IPTV providers and resellers continue to offer their services to the masses. At least in part, this may be a calculation based on the likelihood of being targeted, let alone identified and held to account. Nevertheless, some of the most powerful entertainment companies in the world are continuously on the prowl, looking for operations of wider importance and/or representing lower-hanging fruit.

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3 Count: Bowser’s Millions

Plagiarism Today

Have any suggestions for the 3 Count? Let me know via Twitter @plagiarismtoday. 1: YouTube Says it Receives Millions of Incorrect Video Copyright Takedown Requests. First off today, Aimee Chanthadavong at ZDNet reports that YouTube has released its first every copyright report and, in doing so, has shined a light on the number and kinds of copyright requests it receives.

Licensing 178
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Whither goest the patent troll?

The IPKat

A decade ago, patent trolls were all the rage in the patent world. Whether in speeches, conferences, or articles, no subject engendered more IP conversation. If there was a rock-star matter in the patent world, it was the debate over trolls. Since those heady days, this Kat has sensed a notable decline in the public decibel level. It got this Kat to wonder: has patent trolling become such an ""oh so yesterday" subject?

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Good Sports: Cleveland MLB and Roller Derby Teams Share GUARDIANS Name

IP Watchdog

The MLB baseball team formerly known as the Cleveland Indians has a new name that pays homage to the history of Cleveland. The team last rebranded in 1915, when it left behind its former name, the “Naps” (short for “Napoleons”) in favor of the “Indians.” Now, over a century later, the team has joined other sports franchises in retiring Native American names, mascots, and imagery imbued with negative and racist connotations.

Business 116
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Gary Bowser Agrees to Pay $10 Million in Piracy Damages to Nintendo

TorrentFreak

Hacking group Team-Xecuter was a thorn in the side of major gaming companies for a long time. The group offered hardware and software solutions that allowed people to install and play unofficial games and pirated copies on various consoles, including the popular Nintendo Switch. Team-Xecuter defended its work by pointing out that their products are not necessarily pirate tools.

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Beginners’ Awareness Workshop on Patent Oppositions in the Pharmaceutical Field [Dec 13-15; Apply by Dec 10]

SpicyIP

We’re pleased to inform you that Inter University Centre for IPR Studies (IUCIPRS), CUSAT and Third World Network are jointly organising a free Beginners’ Awareness Workshop on Patent Oppositions in the Pharmaceutical Field from 13th to 15th December, 2021. Beginners’ Awareness Workshop on Patent Oppositions in the Pharmaceutical Field. Inter University Centre for IPR Studies (IUCIPRS), CUSAT and Third World Network are jointly organising a Beginners’ Awareness Workshop on Patent Oppositi

Patent 116
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Smells Like Copyright Infringement

IPilogue

Sarah Raja is a 3L J.D. Candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School, enrolled in Professor David Vaver’s 2021-2022 Intellectual Property Law & Technology Intensive Program. As part of the course requirements, students were asked to write a blog on a topic of their choice. Background. In 1949, C.W. Scott-Giles created an illustration called Upper Hell. It was published in the U.K. as part of Dorothy L.

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Albright Grants Rare Preliminary Injunction Against Fitness Company

IP Watchdog

On December 1, Judge Alan Albright, sitting in the Waco Division of the Western District of Texas, granted a preliminary injunction (PI) to Gonza LLC, finding that all four factors of the judicial test for injunctive relief favored Gonza. IPWatchdog is told it is one of only a handful of PIs Albright has issued. On July 28, 2021, Gonza LLC sued Mission Competition Fitness Equipment (MCF) in the Waco Division of the Western District of Texas.

Marketing 115
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EU Study: Pirate Site Traffic Continues to Drop Despite the Pandemic

TorrentFreak

The European Union Intellectual Property Office ( EUIPO ) regularly conducts studies to see how piracy evolves over time. These studies help the public to understand local piracy trends and can be used as input for future policy decisions. This week, EUIPO published the latest version of the annual online copyright infringement report. The study looks at the period between 2017 and 2020 which includes the start of the Covid pandemic, where piracy reportedly spiked.

Music 125
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Creator Spotlight with Singer/Songwriter Jason Scott

Copyright Alliance

This week we’d like to introduce you to singer/songwriter Jason Scott (aka King Jase). You can follow Jason on Instagram @kingjaseofficial. What was the inspiration behind becoming a creator? What […]. The post Creator Spotlight with Singer/Songwriter Jason Scott appeared first on Copyright Alliance.

Copyright 111
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Zealous Advocacy for the Zellers Trademark: A Look into HBC’s Pending Lawsuit

IPilogue

Eloise Somera is a 3L JD Candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School , enrolled in Professor David Vaver’s 2021-2022 Intellectual Property Law & Technology Intensive Program. As part of the course requirements, students were asked to write a blog on a topic of their choice. What does the colour red, an in-store family diner, and Zeddy the teddy bear remind you of?

Trademark 111
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Five Must-Have Tips for Expediting Trademark Lawsuits in Brazil

IP Watchdog

Civil processes and procedures in the Brazilian Courts have been increasingly expedited due to the digitalization of case files and the assignment of courts specialized in specific matters (for instance, in corporate and intellectual property law). But the timeframe for judicial disputes involving IP rights in Brazil can be expedited even more for foreign companies by complying with the following procedural requirements.

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Operation ‘IPTV Special’: 49 Pirate IPTV Resellers Fined €10,000 Each

TorrentFreak

Known in Italy as ‘pezzotto’, piracy-configured set-top devices have been blamed for mainstream rightsholders losing massive amounts of revenue, much of it connected to cheap subscriptions to unlicensed IPTV providers. In response to the growing threat, Italian authorities have been cracking down on all players in the ecosystem, from key suppliers right down to the humble consumer.

Reporting 124