Virtual Legality

The scourge of the mass, automated DMCA takedown notice has come to Twitch.

But what is the law? How do game and music licenses influence that law? And just what should Twitch/Facebook/YouTube/Twitter/et al be doing about it?

Reform is needed, both to the DMCA and to platform operations...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/728Oz1FcxJ0

#Twitch #DMCA #Takedowns

***

Discussed in this episode:

"This week, we've had a sudden influx of DMCA takedown requests"

Tweet - June 8, 2020 - Twitch Support (@TwitchSupport)

https://twitter.com/TwitchSupport/status/1269851779790929921

"Streaming, Copyright Infringement, and Fair Use (Virtual Legality #177)"

YouTube Video - February 19, 2020 - Hoeg Law

https://youtu.be/vTjsKrC3tOE

"ELECTRONIC ARTS USER AGREEMENT"

Updated July 18, 2019

https://tos.ea.com/legalapp/WEBTERMS/US/en/PC/

"Legal Jibber Jabber"

Riot Games Legal Page - August 2018

https://www.riotgames.com/en/legal

"About Account Enforcements and Chat Bans"

Twitch Help Page

https://help.twitch.tv/s/article/about-account-suspensions-dmca-suspensions-and-chat-bans?language=en_US

"Digital Millennium Copyright Act Notification Guidelines"

Twitch Help Page - Updated March 27, 2019

https://www.twitch.tv/p/legal/dmca-guidelines/

"WHAT WE DO"

RIAA Webpage

https://www.riaa.com/what-we-do/

"...DMCA has done far more harm than good online..."

Tweet - June 7, 2020 - [Rod Breslau] (@Slasher)

https://twitter.com/Slasher/status/1269660530303799298

"Limitations on liability relating to material online"

17 USC 512 (DMCA)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/512

"The DMCA is very often abused to within an inch of its life, but “done more harm than good”?"

(and comments)

Tweet - June 7, 2020 - Richard Hoeg (@HoegLaw)

https://twitter.com/HoegLaw/status/1269822027734683648

"Community Guidelines"

Twitch Legal Page

https://www.twitch.tv/p/legal/community-guidelines/

"Limitations on actions"

17 USC 507

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/507

"Twitch DMCA Claims Frustrate Creators Forced To Delete Years Of VODs And Clips"

Forbes - June 8, 2020 - Paul Tassi

https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2020/06/08/twitch-dmca-claims-frustrate-creators-forced-to-delete-years-of-vods-and-clips/#6c8880ba3a46

"Terms of Service"

Twitch Legal Page

https://www.twitch.tv/p/legal/terms-of-service/#10-respecting-copyright

"Music Guidelines"

Twitch Legal Page

https://www.twitch.tv/p/legal/community-guidelines/music/

"TLOU2: On Compulsory Song Licenses And Cover "Theft" (VL240)"

YouTube Video - June 4, 2020 - Hoeg Law

https://youtu.be/Ha3ZclJhEhs

"Exclusive rights in copyrighted works"

17 USC 106

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/106

"Copyright and the Music Marketplace"

US Copyright Office - February 2015

https://www.copyright.gov/policy/musiclicensingstudy/copyright-and-the-music-marketplace.pdf

"US Copyright Office: "The DMCA? It's Too Tough...On Sony/Disney" (VL233)"

YouTube Video - May 24, 2020 - Hoeg Law

https://youtu.be/20FmZXvKExU

"Section 512 of Title 17"

US Copyright Office - May 2020

https://www.copyright.gov/policy/section512/section-512-full-report.pdf

***

"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law).

CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo

DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.

***

Twitter: @hoeglaw

Web: hoeglaw.com

Blog: hoeglaw.wordpress.com

null

(0:00) Introduction

(1:23) The Unusual Origin of Penguins Cretins

(6:23) The Right to Modify

(11:07) Taking Things to Extremes

(14:18) Good Faith and Fair Dealing

(18:35) The Problem with Early Access

(22:42) Conclusion

null

(0:00) Introduction

(3:08) Game Streaming and Infringement

(7:20) Music Labels Come for Twitch

(13:03) The DMCA (More Harm than Good?)

(17:21) The Problem with Twitch's Guidelines

(20:28) Takedowns and the Statute of Limitations

(22:31) Terms, Music, and Putting Legal Compliance on Users

(27:06) Licensing Music (Compulsory v Sync)

(29:53) Copyright Office: Infringement Doesn't Need to be Real

(34:45) Conclusion

null

(0:00) Introduction

(1:00) Jake Paul's Side of the Story

(2:15) Jake Paul Charged

(5:18) The Arizona Revised Statutes

(5:39) Unlawful Assembly; Riots

(13:13) Criminal Trespass

(16:25) First Amendment; Freedom of the Press

(19:15) Conclusion

And now for something completely different! Well...mostly different.

Sony and Naughty Dog's "Last of Us Part II" project has been through a lot here in Virtual Legality, but now the tables have turned, as singer/songwriter Lotte Kestner accuses the multinational of "stealing" her cover of the 1987 song True Faith (originally recorded by the band New Order).

Does she have a case? The answers lie in that most complicated of copyright arenas: music licensing law.

An open mind is *compulsory*...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/Ha3ZclJhEhs

#TheLastOfUs #Copyright #Compulsory

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Last of Us Leak Legalities"

YouTube Playlist - Hoeg Law

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy-ULKii2yP9AY-Emo1_G8xN

"...hey are you aware that the true faith cover you put in your last of us 2 trailer is a replica..."

Tweet - June 3, 2020 - Lotte Kestner (@lottekestner)

https://twitter.com/lottekestner/status/1268370206990012416

"Looking forward to the DMCA strikes on the commercial."

Tweet - June 4, 2020 - Richard Hoeg (@hoeglaw)

https://twitter.com/HoegLaw/status/1268547078134923269

"The Last of Us Part 2 Trailer Accused of Copying Artist Without Permission"

IGN - June 4, 2020 - Matt Purslow

https://www.ign.com/articles/last-of-us-part-2-new-order-true-faith-cover?sf123524574=1

"The Last of Us Part II – Official Extended Commercial | PS4"

YouTube Video - June 3, 2020 - PlayStation

https://youtu.be/TXl9GI1p_Os

"True Faith"

Lotte Kestner - Stolen - June 1, 2011

https://lottekestner.bandcamp.com/track/true-faith

"New Order - True Faith (1987) (Official Music Video)"

YouTube Video - October 18, 2013 - neworder

https://youtu.be/mfI1S0PKJR8

"Scope of exclusive rights in nondramatic musical works: Compulsory license for making and distributing phonorecords"

17 USC 115

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/115

"Exclusive rights in copyrighted works"

17 USC 106

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/106

***

"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law).

CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo

DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.

***

Twitter: @hoeglaw

Web: hoeglaw.com

Blog: hoeglaw.wordpress.com

null

(0:00) Introduction

(0:48) The Kestner Claim

(2:08) IGN and Source Material

(5:49) The Compulsory Music License

(11:18) Limits on Compulsory Covers

(15:00) Conclusion

null

(0:00) Introduction

(0:30) Controlled Digital Lending (CDL)

(4:40) First Sale Analysis

(7:10) Fair Use Analysis

(10:58) Enter the National Emergency Library

(12:38) LAWSUIT!

(14:40) Lawsuit - Initial Claims

(20:50) Lawsuit - Background

(29:43) Lawsuit - CDL Analysis

(39:24) Conclusion

With cities across the country on fire after the tragic and senseless death of George Floyd, I reflect on the situation, the shield of qualified immunity, and the complicity of all aspects of government and law.

There are no pithy remarks sufficient...in Virtual Legality.

#QI #Protests #Reflections

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/CdHgjar-Uv0

***

CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction

2:18 Abuse of Law

3:43 Contact with the State

4:58 Qualified Immunity and the Loss of Judgment

7:41 Minnesota Charges

8:41 Police Unions and Collective Bargaining

9:35 The Worst of Both Worlds

13:03 Government and Covid 19 Lockdown

15:22 A Protectionist Legal Profession

18:29 Corporations Don't Have Feelings

20:53 The Perils of Group Identification

23:30 Answers, not Violence

26:36 Conclusion

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Last of Us Leak Legalities"

YouTube Playlist

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy-ULKii2yP9AY-Emo1_G8xN

"Modern Operation of Qualified Immunity"

Unlawful Shield Website (Cato)

https://www.unlawfulshield.com/frequently-asked-questions-about-qualified-immunity/

"Police Union Contracts"

Duke Law Journal - March 2017 - Stephen Rushin

https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3890&context=dlj

"Task Force on the Ethics & Regulation of Legal Services Marketing"

State Bar of Michigan Website

http://www.michbar.org/generalinfo/marketing

"Now is not the time..."

Tweet - May 31, 2020 - Naughty Dog

https://twitter.com/Naughty_Dog/status/1267274658610438144

#BlackLivesMatter

Tweet - May 31, 2020 - Sony

https://twitter.com/Sony/status/1267201754367737857

"We stand against racism."

Tweet - May 31, 2020 - Disney

https://twitter.com/Disney/status/1267224613152571393

"This week, I am introducing the Ending Qualified Immunity Act..."

Tweet - May 31, 2020 - Justin Amash

https://twitter.com/justinamash/status/1267267244029083648

***

"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law).

CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo

DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.

***

Twitter: @hoeglaw

Web: hoeglaw.com

Blog: hoeglaw.wordpress.com

When Twitter decided to add a "fact check" to one of President Trump's latest tweets (on the possibility of mail-in voting fraud), it opened up a huge debate that ended in the President promising to draft and enforce an executive order (EO) to "regulate" social media entities and the Internet.

Earlier, we reviewed the draft form of such executive order, finding it wanting in several respects: "Section 230 Executive Order! A Lawyer Reviews Trump's Plan (Draft) (VL237)" (https://youtu.be/tTThb2Y9Fh8)

Now we have the final version.

Once was good, but twice is even better...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/gmBGFVUjCaI

***

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Introduction

2:00 A Comparison (Draft to Final)

2:45 Description of Policy

6:05 Interpreting CDA Section 230

19:48 Marketing, Making Law, and Collecting Information

26:00 Conclusion

#President #ExecutiveOrder #230

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Executive Order on Preventing Online Censorship"

White House Website - May 28, 2020

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-preventing-online-censorship/

"Section 230 Executive Order! A Lawyer Reviews Trump's Plan (Draft) (VL237)"

YouTube Video - May 28, 2020 - Hoeg Law

https://youtu.be/tTThb2Y9Fh8

"Protection for private blocking and screening of offensive material"

47 USC 230 (CDA 230)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/47/230

***

"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law).

CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo

DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.

***

Twitter: @hoeglaw

Web: hoeglaw.com

Blog: hoeglaw.wordpress.com

***NOTE: The document reviewed in this video is a draft of the executive order issued by the President on these topics. Additional commentary related to the final version is pinned as the first comment to this video, and our formal follow-up video can be found at https://youtu.be/gmBGFVUjCaI***

When Twitter decided to add a "fact check" to one of President Trump's latest tweets (on the possibility of mail-in voting fraud), it opened up a huge debate that ended in the President promising to draft and enforce an executive order (EO) to "regulate" social media entities and the Internet.

Now we have that executive order (in draft form).

What does the order purport to do?

How does it get CDA 230 CDA wrong, and what impact will that have?

How does it involve the FTC and the States Attorneys General?

And what does it mean for the future of the Internet?

We dive into the fanciful, sci-fi world of Captain EO...in Virtual Legality.

***

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Introduction

2:34 The President Gets Fact Checked

9:30 Hoeg's Anticipated EO Approach

13:38 The Executive Order (Draft)

14:12 "Section 1. Policy"

19:48 "Section 2. Arbitrary Restrictions" (CDA Section 230)

31:40 "Section 3. Prohibitions on Spending"

32:55 "Sections 4 and 5. False Advertising and the FTC"

41:00 Conclusion

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/tTThb2Y9Fh8

#President #EO #CDA230

***

Discussed in this episode:

"Here’s Trump’s Executive Order."

Tweet - May 28, 2020 - Jacob Ward (@byjacobward)

https://twitter.com/byjacobward/status/1265864271138828289

"There is NO WAY (ZERO!) that Mail-In Ballots will be anything less than substantially fraudulent."

Tweet - May 26, 2020 - Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1265255835124539392

"Trump makes unsubstantiated claim that mail-in ballots will lead to voter fraud"

Twitter Events Link

https://twitter.com/i/events/1265330601034256384

"Civic integrity policy"

Twitter Help Center

https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/election-integrity-policy

"Trump preparing order targeting social media protections"

Associated Press - May 28, 2020

https://apnews.com/fc30f9ebdff9d3d33a870e7374f8ffa6

"So, since a number of people have asked me, let's go through the thought experiment together."

Tweet - May 27, 2020 - Richard Hoeg ( @Hoeg Law )

https://twitter.com/HoegLaw/status/1265831119020228610

"Preventing Online Censorship"

Draft Executive Order

https://kateklonick.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/DRAFT-EO-Preventing-Online-Censorship.pdf

"Protection for private blocking and screening of offensive material"

47 USC 230 (CDA 230)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/47/230

"PACKINGHAM v. NORTH CAROLINA"

SCOTUS - Decided June 19, 2017

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/16pdf/15-1194_08l1.pdf

"Supreme Court last chance for Trump to block Twitter critics"

Associated Press - March 23, 2020

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-trump-twitter-us-supreme-court-20200323-pdk2pxg3yfht5bwjdwlu7nepfm-story.html

"Unfair methods of competition unlawful; prevention by Commission"

15 USC 45

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/45

"Defending and respecting the rights of people using our service"

Twitter Help Center

https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/defending-and-respecting-our-users-voice

***

"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law).

CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo

DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.

***

Twitter: @hoeglaw

Web: hoeglaw.com

Blog: hoeglaw.wordpress.com