Google Says It Removes 1 Million Infringing Links Monthly

Google Says It Removes 1 Million Infringing Links Monthly -- Threat Level

Each month, Google removes more than 1 million links to infringing content such as movies, video games, music and software from its search results — with about half of those requests for removal last month coming from Microsoft.

The search and advertising giant revealed the data Thursday as it released sortable analytics on the massive number of copyright takedown requests it receives — adding to its already existing data on the number of times governments ask for users’ personal data.

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My Comment: In all the years of my blogging, I have had only one image removed from this blog, and 4 images from my other blogs and websites. In everyone of these cases, I thought that the images were in the public domain.

Oracle And Google's Android Copyright Suit Begins

Larry Ellison's Oracle bought Sun Microsystems 14 years after it first released Java

Oracle And Google's Android Copyright Row Trial Begins -- BBC

Oracle's claim that Google violated several of its patents and copyrights goes to trial in a San Francisco court on Monday.

It is one of the biggest such tech lawsuits to date. Oracle is claiming about $1bn (£630m) in compensation.

The Java developer claims Google's Android system infringes intellectual property rights relating to the programming language.

Software engineers warn the case could set a worrying precedent.

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My Comment: Oracle feels confident about this case .... but we shall see.

Threat Level Privacy, Crime and Security Online Isohunt Ordered to Remove Infringing Content

From Threat Level:

A U.S. judge is ordering Isohunt, one of the world’s leading BitTorrent search engines, to remove all infringing content. Isohunt’s operator said Tuesday that the decision would likely shutter the site, which has 30 million unique monthly visitors.

The injunction targeting Isohunt follows similar rulings against competing pirate sites like Mininova and The Pirate Bay, although the Bay has thus far eluded compliance.

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Secret Copyright Talks Document Leaks

Acta, the anti-counterfeiting trade agreement, is designed to cover theft of copyright, from designer handbags to music online Photo: Romina Shama

From The Telegraph:

Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement is being negotiated in secret, but the full text has now been leaked.

The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, the controversial global treaty that covers intellectual property from digital media to designer handbags, has been leaked in full for the first time. Secret negotiations are still going on regarding the document that, some groups hope, will make those who share copyrighted material online subject to far harsher penalties.

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UK's Copyright Change 'Could Block YouTube'

Lord Mandelson's plans to tackle illegal filesharing have received widespread criticism Photograph: Andrew Winning/Reuters

From The Guardian:

One of the most contentious parts of the controversial digital economy bill was voted down by the House of Lords last night – only to be replaced by a clause that campaigners say is even more draconian.

The Liberal Democrats forced through a surprise amendment to the bill's notorious clause 17 on Wednesday – in a move that dealt a defeat to the government but troubled critics, who suggest it will have the opposite effect that its creators intend.

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Obama Appoints Scholar As New Copyright Czar

From The Threat Level:

The “copyleft” and the “copyright” are both applauding the presidential appointment Friday of Victoria A. Espinel to become the nation’s first copyright czar.

Congress created the new czar position last year as part of intellectual property reform legislation.

Espinel, who requires Senate confirmation, has a past in teaching and government. Most recently, she was a visiting scholar at the George Mason University School of Law, where she taught intellectual property and international trade. The White House said she was an intellectual property adviser to the staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senate Finance Committee, House Judiciary Committee and House Ways and Means Committee. Espinel, in 2005, served as the nation’s top trade negotiator for intellectual property at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

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Unlicensed News Stories Rampant On Web

Unauthorized copies of Web news stories draw far more viewers than the official versions. Publishers are seeking ways to draw advertising revenue from the pirated versions. (iStockphoto)

From CBS:
Software Could Help Publishers Recover Thousands In Ad Revenue, Study Finds
(AP) Here's another reason for ailing newspaper and magazine publishers to wince: On average, the audience perusing unauthorized online copies of their articles is nearly 1.5 times larger than the readership on their own Web sites, according to a study released Thursday.

However, the problem, flagged by copyright cop Attributor Corp., could turn into a golden opportunity if media companies figure out a way to mine advertising revenue from the traffic flocking to their pirated stories posted on blogs and other sites.

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