• Cyberlocker Burden of Proof Should Be Reversed, Anti-Piracy Group Says

    Updated: 2012-01-31 21:54:08
    An anti-piracy group say they have monitored decreased usage of cyberlockers that withdrew their rewards programs in the wake of the Megaupload shutdown and increases for those that maintained them. What is required now, the Hollywood-backed group says, is a "burden of proof reversal" which would require hosts to prove that their businesses are not built on piracy, or face being held liable.Source: Cyberlocker Burden of Proof Should Be Reversed, Anti-Piracy Group Says

  • Diary of a Copyright Infringement Lawsuit – 1a (Costs)

    Updated: 2012-01-28 04:26:04
    One of the first questions photographers ask when deciding whether to file a copyright lawsuit is “what will it cost?”  While each case and circumstances differ, there are some general guidelines. As previously identified in my May 17, 2011 blog entry, the initial filing fee paid to the court for federal lawsuits is $350.  As [...]

  • Copyright Industry Calls For Broad Search Engine Censorship

    Updated: 2012-01-27 18:32:13
    At a behind-closed-doors meeting facilitated by the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport, copyright holders have handed out a list of demands to Google, Bing and Yahoo. To curb the growing piracy problem, Hollywood and the major music labels want the search engines to de-list popular filesharing sites such as The Pirate Bay, and give higher ranking to authorized sites.Source: Copyright Industry Calls For Broad Search Engine Censorship

  • WordPress Plugin Unblocks Censored Sites, Including The Pirate Bay

    Updated: 2012-01-26 19:07:54
    A new WordPress plugin makes it dead easy to uncensor blocked websites. In just a few clicks people can setup their own proxy site with the popular blogging software. An essential tool for people whose speech is restricted by oppressive regimes, and handy for downloaders in The Netherlands, Italy, Finland and other countries where ISPs are blocking The Pirate Bay. Additionally, the plugin partially defeats the PIPA and SOPA bills in the US.Source: WordPress Plugin Unblocks Censored Sites, Including The Pirate Bay

  • Streaming Media West Conference Videos From LA Now Online

    Updated: 2012-01-25 16:59:07
    All sessions from the Streaming Media West 2011 show in LA this past November are now online and available for on-demand viewing at www.streamingmedia.com/videos You may re-purpose these videos as you wish. Due to some technical issues we had with the recordings, one session entitled, "Making a Living on YouTube" was not able to be archived and two of the...

  • Wanted: Pre-Conference Workshop Presenters For Streaming Media East Show

    Updated: 2012-01-24 19:07:12
    On Monday May 14th, the day before the Streaming Media East show kicks off, we have four workshops that provide hands-on instructional classes. All workshops are three hours in length and I currently have two workshops confirmed on the topics of "Planning Online Video Deployment for HTML5 and Flash" and "Encoding for Flash, Mobile, and HTML5". I am looking for...

  • The Pirate Bay Wants You To Really Download A Car

    Updated: 2012-01-24 16:27:42
    You wouldn't download a car, the Internet meme predicted. But if The Pirate Bay has its way that action will be a reality in the years to come. In preparation for this world-changing day, the world's biggest torrent site has just premiered a new section containing the plans for physical items that can be downloaded then printed out. Today its a plastic pirate ship, but one tomorrow in a decade or two it may well be a car.Source: The Pirate Bay Wants You To Really Download A Car

  • Compensating You for Copyright Infringement

    Updated: 2012-01-23 02:38:30
    I researched for weeks, test drove many models, and ordered my new car in September. It finally arrived mid-December. Today, while stopped at a red light during a snow storm, a driver lost control of his car and side-swiped me (damage shown above). My neck and back are stiff and sore. I’ve already spent time [...]

  • Top 10 Most Pirated Movies on BitTorrent

    Updated: 2012-01-23 00:30:16
    The top 10 most downloaded movies on BitTorrent, 'Special Forces' tops the chart this week, followed by 'In time'. 'Seeking Justice' completes the top three.Source: Top 10 Most Pirated Movies on BitTorrent

  • An explanation for… Almost everything really…

    Updated: 2012-01-22 09:00:54
    “Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don’t mean to do harm-but the harm does not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify it because they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves.” – T.S. [...]

  • Second NinjaVideo Admin Jailed For Copyright Infringement

    Updated: 2012-01-21 11:18:06
    A second administrator of NinjaVideo, one of the first targets of the US government's Operation in Our Sites, has been sentenced. Matthew Smith, known online as Dead1ne, received 14 months in prison, two years supervised release, and was ordered to pay back just over $172,000 he allegedly earned from the site.Source: Second NinjaVideo Admin Jailed For Copyright Infringement

  • Historic: The Internet Protests Anti-Piracy Bills

    Updated: 2012-01-18 13:13:46
    January 18, 2012, will still be talked about decades from now. It is the day tens of thousands of websites, including giants such as Google, Wikipedia and Reddit, decided to take a stand against what they see as a hostile takeover of the Internet by Hollywood, the recording industry, and other rightsholders. As it faces two draconian anti-piracy bills, the free Internet is at stake. Whatever the outcome may be, history is being made today.Source: Historic: The Internet Protests Anti-Piracy Bills

  • Grooveshark Blocks German Users Over Licensing Costs

    Updated: 2012-01-18 11:32:18
    This morning millions of Internet users in Germany have woken to find their online music listening options reduced. Music streaming service Grooveshark has self-censored in the country, citing "unreasonably high" licensing costs imposed by local music rights collections group GEMA. In other news, Grooveshark is now trying to unmask the 'whistleblower' who recently landed them in so much legal trouble with the major labels.Source: Grooveshark Blocks German Users Over Licensing Costs

  • Top 10 Most Pirated Movies on BitTorrent

    Updated: 2012-01-16 09:11:19
    The top 10 most downloaded movies on BitTorrent, 'Johnny English Reborn' tops the chart this week, followed by 'War Horse'. 'Real Steel' completes the top three.Source: Top 10 Most Pirated Movies on BitTorrent

  • 100+ Year Old Wisdom

    Updated: 2012-01-14 15:36:50
    “It has been a generally accepted theory, but a false one, that infringement of copyright only takes place when copies are made for public sale or performance, and not when they are intended merely for personal use.” Musical News, vol. 8, pg. 314 (April 6, 1895).  HT: Terry Hart over at Copyhype.com.

  • TVShack Admin Can Be Extradited To US, Judge Rules

    Updated: 2012-01-13 17:22:29
    Despite protestations that merely linking to copyright material isn't an offense in the UK, a judge has today ruled that the UK-based ex-administrator of the TVShack video linking website can be extradited to the US to face copyright infringement charges. Richard O'Dwyer, 23, has never set foot in United States but now faces being used as a 'guinea pig' for US copyright law.Source: TVShack Admin Can Be Extradited To US, Judge Rules

  • BitTorrent Seeders Harrass Blackmail Victim, High Court Rules

    Updated: 2012-01-11 09:56:01
    Anyone who understands The Pirate Bay, BitTorrent and the viral nature of file-sharing will appreciate just how difficult it is to have content taken down. So what can you do when previously private explicit photos of you appear online? For one young lady it seems that no effort was too big or too costly, as court papers from this fascinating case reveal.Source: BitTorrent Seeders Harrass Blackmail Victim, High Court Rules

  • Dutch ISPs Ordered To Block The Pirate Bay

    Updated: 2012-01-11 00:10:10
    Despite claims that freedom of expression is at stake, today a pair of ISPs have been ordered to block The Pirate Bay. Following a demand from Dutch anti-piracy outfit BREIN, the Court of The Hague ruled that Ziggo, the largest ISP in the Netherlands, and competitor XS4ALL have to block subscriber access to the world's most famous torrent site. XS4ALL say they are "bitterly disappointed", noting that fundamental rights have been traded for "commercial interests".Source: Dutch ISPs Ordered To Block The Pirate Bay

  • Quote Of The Day

    Updated: 2012-01-10 20:39:11
    Radley Balko: Greece adds pedophiles, exhibitionists, and kleptomaniacs to list of disabilities eligible for state benefits. Sounds like some politicians are ready to retire. Hah!

  • Easing the Taxing Part of Photography

    Updated: 2012-01-07 18:16:34
    Part of knowing your legal rights and responsibilities as a photographer is reporting your taxes properly.  While you must comply with the law, you also don’t want to overpay.  Do what you can to learn on your own what to do.  Some good resources are available through: The IRS Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center [...]

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