Last week the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) sent a mailer encouraging its members to challenge groups that “promote Copyleft in order to undermine our Copyright.” Such groups include Creative Commons (CC), Public Knowledge, and Electronic Frontier Foundation. On Wednesday, Eric Steuer, Creative Director for Creative Commons responded via the CC website. [...]

Playboy is suing rapper Drake for the unauthorized use of Fallin’ in Love by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds (1975) in his break out single Best I Ever Had (2009). Recognizing the “enormous commercial success” of the EP, according to The Boombox, Playboy seeks to destroy all remaining copies of the work and collect damages. [...]

Michael Jackson musical blocked by estate Broadway producer Nederlander filed a suit against the estate of Michael Jackson claiming the estate won’t clear the right to use songs, including Beat It, Billie Jean, and Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin. From TMZ. ASCAP files 21 scattershot copyright lawsuits The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) [...]

Claiming that each ring constituted a public performance under 17 USC  § 106(4), the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) was seeking to increase the royalties paid by phone carriers. 17  USC § 106(4) states that the owner of copyright has the exclusive rights to do and to authorize the performance the copyrighted [...]