EU Files Formal Charges on iTunes EU has delivered 34 pages of formal charges to Apple and the music 'majors' - EMI, Sony-BMG, Warner Music, Universal - charging iTune deals breach competition law, vary prices among jurisdictions 04.04.07 Telegraph, Apple, EU Competition, Media Law
Copy Protection Has Failed Music distributors will start to strip copy protection software from their download products in the next few months, iTunes and other sites forced to sell files containing digital rights management (DRM) software that restricts devices that can play the music 08.02.07 Guardian, Copyright, Internet Regulation, Media Law
Drop DRM, Says Jobs Apple chief Steve Jobs is calling on European states to drop anti-competitive cases against iTunes, which will only play on iPods, says they should push for music industry to drop digital rights management, real barrier to selling music for all players 07.02.07 Financial Times, Apple, Copyright, EU Competition
ISPs Targeted for Piracy John Kennedy, head of International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), plans to target ISPs in anti-piracy campaign, says it is not acceptable for them to claim piracy is not their problem 18.01.07 Telegraph, Internet Piracy, Internet Regulation
Lawsuit Ends Jackson Hobbit Lord of Rings director Peter Jackson will not direct new films in the franchise, producers New Line insisted future contracts include settlement of lawsuit claiming greater share of merchandising profits 21.11.06 Times
Diddy Website Directed at UK The US pop star Sean 'Puffy' Combs (aka 'Puffy' and 'P Diddy'), who changed his name to 'Diddy' in 2005, was found to have infringed earlier rights in the name owned by Mr Dearlove, also known as 'Diddy', judgment was awarded to Mr Dearlove in respect of certain website and lyric-related aspects of the claim, other control-related aspects reserved for full trial 24.03.07 Clintons, Intellectual Property, Internet Regulation, Trademark
New Venture Investment Rules As part of his 2007 Budget, chancellor announced new qualifying company rules for the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), the Corporate Venturing Scheme (CVS) and the Venture Capital Trust (VCT) scheme, new rules will affect companies attracting investment 24.03.07 Michael Simkins, Budget 2007, Capital Markets, UK Tax
Copyright on Video Games Appeal Ct has refused appeal in Nova Productions v Mazooma Games and Bell Fruit Games [2007] EWCA Civ 219 (reported 14 March), the Court found that, although there had been copying, it was 'just too general to amount to a substantial part' of Nova's game 22.03.07 Clintons, Copyright, Information Technology, Intellectual Property
Seal Told to Pay Manager The Court of Appeal this week upheld the 2006 judgment in the case of John Wadlow v Henry Olusegun Adeola Samuel (pka Seal), the recording artist failed to persuade the court that a 1995 agreement ending his relationship with Wadlow, his former manager, was procured by undue influence 03.03.07 Clintons, Media Law
Seal Told to Pay Manager Singer Seal told by Appeal Ct to pay John Wadlow £1m in commission for album sales, Seal had claimed contracts were invalid because Wadlow had 'undue influence' over him 01.03.07 Independent, Media Law
Role of Football Agent The High Ct has confirmed sports agency contracts are quite different from those of artists, former agent of Wayne Rooney, Proform, lost its claim of unlawful contract interference against Proactive 08.11.06 Clintons, Sports Law
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Times Pursued for Hendrix CD Rights owners Experience Hendrix and Last Experience are suing Sunday Times over CD distributed with paper, claim reproduction of performances at Royal Albert Hall were not properly cleared 21.03.07 Guardian, Copyright, Media Law
Musical Judge to Rule on Shade of Pale Mr Justice William Blackburne studied music and law at Cambridge, anxious for use of organ to decide on dispute between Matthew Fisher and Gary Brooker over composition of opening of Procol Harum hit Whiter Shade of Pale 14.11.06 Daily Mail, Copyright
Court Clash for Procol Harum Portable organs are to be brought into court to decide copyright claim over Whiter Shade of Pale, Matthew Fisher says he wrote the Bach-style introduction, Gary Brooker and Keith Reid say song is theirs 13.11.06 BBC, Copyright
Natty Dread Bassist in Bob Marley's band, the Wailers, 'bedrock' of the music, claiming £60m from Marley estate and Universal-Island Records, claims Marley 'said he would look after us' 17.03.06 Telegraph, Copyright, Intellectual Property
