Jessie Schuster
Edited by Elissa D. Hecker
Entertainment
Copyright Office Recommends Unassignable Federal Right to Digital Replicas in First Generative AI Report
On the same day that a group of senators introduced a bill—the “NO FAKES Act”—to create a right for individuals to control digital replicas of their voice and likeness, the U.S. Copyright Office issued a report addressing digital replicas created by artificial intelligence (AI). This is part one of the Office’s broader report on issues related to the exploding use of generative AI platforms. Among the recommendations is the need for passage of a federal law that would create a new form of property right for a person’s digital replica to disincentivize the creation of realistic but false depictions of individuals. However, the Office advised against making that right assignable and suggested that the duration of licenses should not exceed one decade.
Sarah Silverman Lawsuit Against OpenAI Suffers Setback As Judge Trims Case
Top authors suing OpenAI over the use of their novels to train its artificial intelligence chatbot hit another stumbling block, with a federal judge narrowing the scope of their case. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín dismissed a claim accusing the Sam Altman-led firm of unfair business practices by utilizing the works of authors — including Sarah Silverman, Paul Tremblay, and Ta-Nehisi Coates — without consent or compensation to power its AI system.
The writers’ primary claim for direct copyright infringement was left untouched.
Justin Timberlake’s License Suspended at DWI Hearing, Judge Threatens Gag Order for Lawyer
Following his DWI arrest, Justin Timberlake’s license was suspended by a Sag Harbor Judge.
Major Labels in France Blocking Dozens of Pirate Sites Following Favorable Court Decision
Major labels in France are now capable of adding more sites to their block list, after a French court made the decision to help music labels combat privacy issues.
UK Music Industry’s Streaming Transparency Code Goes Live
In an agreement among streaming platforms, artists, and rights-holders, a streaming transparency code has gone live in the UK. It will provide transparency as communications relate to royalties, DSP licenses, and contacts.
Arts
New York Court Awards Nazi-Looted Egon Schiele Painting to Heir Of Holocaust Victim
The heir of a Holocaust victim who was a Viennese art collector is now in possession of Portrait of the Artist’s Wife (1917), a watercolor painting by Egon Schiele. The painting has been the subject of Nazi-looted art trials in the U.S.
NO FAKES Act Introduced: A Big Deal for Performing Artists and Everyone Else
The NO FAKES Act has officially been introduced by Senators Coons, Blackburn, Klobuchar, and Tillis. The Bill aims to protect the voices and visual likeness of artists from unauthorized AI usage.
Copyright, Plagiarism and Choreography
Choreographer Courtney Ortiz is accusing dancer Enric Marimon of plagiarizing her choreography. While courts are only about three years into figuring out how to enforce the copyright law over infringers in dance (even though choreography is protected under the 1976 Copyright Act), choreography has its own code that may be binding in the Ortiz-Marimon scenario.
It’s Official: These 13 Books Are Now Banned From All Public Schools in Utah
As states continue to ban books in their public schools, Utah released a first-ever list of books banned from public schools. The list includes an entire series by Sarah J. Maas, books by Judy Blume, a book of poems by Rupi Kaur, Margaret Atwood books, and more.
Sports
To Become the GOAT, Simone Biles First Had to Be a Turtle
She sealed her legacy with four medals at the Paris Games. She created it by being herself and going at her own pace.
Golf Course Atop Ancient Native American Earthworks to Be Removed
A golf course located on the Octagon Earthworks will be removed and the site will open as a public park.
French Authorities Investigating ‘Heil Hitler’ Chants and Nazi Salutes at Israel-Paraguay Olympic Soccer Match
The Olympics, home to hundreds of athletes that are meant to be politically neutral with rules prohibiting demonstrations in any political, religious, or racial propaganda, is now the site of ‘Heil Hitler’ chants and Nazi salutes leading up to the Israel-Paraguay soccer match. Israeli athletes have also received numerous death threats during their time at the Paris Olympics. French authorities are investigating the situation.
Frequent Doping Tests and Suspicion Cast Over China’s Olympics Swim Team
With Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle beating his own world record and securing the gold by a full second in the men’s 100-meter freestyle, fans of China’s Olympic team are thrilled. The gold comes after the country’s swimmers faced frequent drug tests, which the athletes say caused disruptions to the team.
Canada Loses Olympic Drone-Spying Appeal as New FIFA Details Emerge Ahead of Must-Win Game
A 6 point Olympic tournament deduction was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the Canadian women’s soccer team drone spying scandal after the team’s coach was sent home from the Games.
Media & Technology
Meta Agrees to $1.4B Settlement with Texas in Privacy Lawsuit Over Facial Recognition
Meta has agreed to a $1.4B settlement with Texas in a suit that alleged the tech company was using user data without permission and violating Texas citizens’ privacy rights with its facial recognition feature.
What’s Ahead for KOSA, an Online Safety Act for Minors, As it Reaches the House
The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) was passed by the Senate in a 91-3 vote; however, it must still face the House before it can begin the goal of creating a “duty of care” for companies, as they would be obligated to take “reasonable steps” in prevention of harm of minors.
DOJ Suing TikTok Over Alleged ‘Widespread’ Child Privacy Violations
The DOJ is suing TikTok in a suit that accuses the platform of unlawfully collecting children’s data.
Elon Musk Made a Kamala Harris Deepfake Viral, Sparking a Debate About Parody and Free Speech
Elon Musk reposted a parody ad featuring a deepfake of VP Harris’s voice. Now, questions are being raised about needs to tighten media regulation as the 2024 election looms.
AI Firms Blast Lawsuit from Music Giants: ‘Labels See a Threat to Their Market Share’
AI firms are responding to the ongoing lawsuits being brought against them by music giants, arguing that the “labels see a threat to their market share” as AI music companies such as Suno and Udio continue to grow.
Don Lemon Sues Elon Musk and X, Alleging Fraud and Breach of Contract Over Canceled Content Deal
Three months after announcing a partnership in January where Don Lemon would host an interview show on X, Elon Must canceled the deal. Now, the former CNN host is suing X and Musk alleging fraud, negligent misrepresentation, misappropriation of NIL, and breach of an express contract.
Will A.I. Upend White-Collar Work? Consider the Hollywood Editor
Despite actors and writers securing limits on AI usage in their contract negotiations last year, editors and artists still fear the technology could come for their jobs.
Former Lead BBC News Anchor Pleads Guilty to Making Indecent Images of Children
Huw Edwards, a former BBC anchor, pleaded guilty to 3 counts of making indecent images of children. The former anchor will face up to 10 years in prison following his sentencing on Sept. 16.
Far-Right Riots Erupt in U.K. In The Wake of Child Murders
Following the knife attack that killed children at a Taylor Swift dance class, protests have erupted in all English cities calling for the removal of all Muslim immigrants, as an inflammatory and false viral AI image showing a Muslim man waiving a knife was viewed almost 1M times.
General News
Biden Lays Out Plan for Supreme Court Reforms, Saying “Extreme Opinions” Have Undermined Confidence
President Biden announced his detailed plan laying out Supreme Court reforms, referencing the new era the U.S. has found itself in with a Court packed with “extreme opinions.”
Tears, Hugs, and a Salute as Three Freed Americans Back on U.S. Soil After Historic Prisoner Swap with Russia
Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and Alsu Kurmasheva, among others, have finally made it back to the U.S. after being held as Russian prisoners as a result of a historic prisoner swap.
Defense Secretary Revokes Plea Deal with Accused 9/11 Plotters
After shocking the nation by reaching plea deals with 3 accused 9/11 plotters, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revoked the plea deal that would have allowed the terrorists to avoid the death penalty.
Fifth Circuit Rejects Minority Coalitions’ Texas Voting Map Suit
The Fifth Circuit has rejected the different coalitions of minority voters’ voting map suit, ruling that “coalition claims do not comport with Section 2’s statutory language or with Supreme Court cases.”
Autoworkers Union Endorses Kamala Harris for President
VP Harris will rally with UAW workers in Detroit next week following the union’s endorsement of her in the upcoming election.
Trump Says He’s Agreed to Fox Debate While Harris Sticks with ABC Plan
Trump and VP Kamala Harris may not have a traditional debate prior to the November election, as Harris sticks with the original plan to debate the former President on ABC, while Trump says he will only debate on Fox News.
Trump Tells Christian Voters They “Won’t Have to Vote Anymore” If He Is Elected in November
To close out his speech at The Believers’ Summit in Florida, Trump told the crowd they “won’t have to vote anymore my beautiful Christians” if he is elected as President. The statement has caused concern, as numerous media outlets point out that the statement is alluding to authoritarianism.
Gunman at Trump Rally Was Often One Step Ahead of the Secret Service
The New York Times obtained text messages proving that Thomas Crooks was aware of law enforcement officers who had their eyes on him prior to shooting at Trump. The messages show that the attempted assassin might have in fact been one step ahead of the Secret Service as he plotted his attack.
Utah Supreme Court Upholds a Block on a Strict Abortion Ban
The Utah Supreme Court upheld a block on a strict abortion ban, meaning that the procedure is legal in the state until the 18th week of pregnancy. The blocked portion of the ban would be a near-total ban prohibiting abortion at any time during pregnancy except for in cases of rape, incest or to save the mother’s life.
What Can a City Do When Neo-Nazis Start Marching Down Its Streets?
This summer has been one of hatred in Nashville, as dozens of white supremacists have taken over the streets while waving Nazi flags bearing swastikas. Representative Behn has acknowledged that the city is simply a microcosm of the U.S. and a decision on how to handle the neo-Nazis must be made.
Famine Declared in Sudan’s Darfur Region After Months of Civil War
The Darfur region of Sudan is officially experiencing a famine 15 months into the country’s civil war.
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