Spinrilla, a hip-hop app and website, is facing a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by numerous music industry groups. Spinrilla is claiming the DMCA protects it, but the company may have a problem. The suing parties are alleging Spinrilla failed to comply with the DMCA and waived the protections of the law. If true, Spinrills is …
Does Using Moderators Terminate DMCA Safe Harbor Protections?
User-generated content is wonderful stuff. Massive fortunes have been built on its back as we can see with the Facebooks and Twitters of the world. With the good comes the annoying, which in this case means coming up with a method for dealing with the massive amount of content users can upload to a site. …
How Cable Provider Cox Communications Lost Its DMCA Immunity
The DMCA provides Internet service providers with immunity from copyright infringement claims based on content uploaded by users. DMCA immunity represents a key element of the legal foundation allowing the web to operate in the fashion it does, which makes it all the more amazing when companies such as Cox Communications waive the immunity. DMCA …
DMCA Agent Registration – The Multi-Company Registration Conundrum
The recent BWP Media v. Hollywood Fan Sites LLC et. al. ruling is receiving a good bit of attention. The primary focus has been on the issue of when a DMCA Agent registration with the United States Copyright Office becomes effective. However, the court raised a secondary issue regarding the number of service providers that …
DMCA Agent Problems – Celebrity Fan Sites Lose DMCA Protection
The DMCA insulates websites allowing user-generated content from copyright infringement claims so long as sites take specific compliance steps. One of the easiest steps is the designation and registration of a DMCA agent. Unfortunately, online businesses continue to screw up this simple step and expose themselves to copyright infringement lawsuits. Celebrities Stories about celebrities bring …
Website Loses DMCA Protection Because of DMCA Agent Problems
I see more than a few people online suggest it isn’t necessary to register a DMCA agent. This belief is incorrect. You must select and designate a DMCA agent to gain the immunity from copyright infringement lawsuits provided under the law. One company, Allvoices, learned a painful lesson about what can happen when the registration is …