A major streaming service apparently is trying to get labels to grant them a direct license for webcasting on the service.  A “direct license” in this context means that the direct license replaces the statutory license available under the Copyright Act at the rates negotiated with SoundExchange.  It also makes an end run around some […]

Unsurprisingly, Google lost the first round of the Google Books case.  What was somewhat surprising is that the main reason for Google’s loss was its failure to take into account the reaction of the authors–the Court noted that “[n]ot only are the objections great in number, some of the concerns are significant. Further, an extremely […]

I see Google is still hawking the Chris Brown wedding video as though it were spontaneous (the centerpiece of Von Lohman’s sermon).  I had to sit through this drivel at a panel not too long ago and tripe remains tripe despite repetition.  Why don’t they choose something that’s a true YouTube sensation like “Chocolate Rain” or […]

Now why in the world would Eric Schmidt want to take a job where he is subject to Freedom of Information Act requests?  Even if he can explain away his truly bizarre comments about privacy?  Or, as Consumer Watchdog put it “Consumer Watchdog To President Obama: Tapping Google CEO For Commerce Secretary Is Like Appointing […]