Copyright

Following Anna’s Archive’s December 2025 announcement of scraping 86 million Spotify music files, Spotify and major labels are seeking a $322 million default judgment in New York federal court. The site ignored proceedings, prompting demands for statutory damages under DMCA and copyright law, plus a permanent injunction to block access. Anna’s Archive has temporarily pulled the Spotify torrents amid pressure.

25 Mwezi wa tatu, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI

The US Supreme Court ruled unanimously on March 25 that internet service providers like Cox Communications are not liable for their subscribers' copyright infringement. The decision, written by Justice Clarence Thomas, reversed a lower court finding against Cox in a long-running dispute with Sony Music Entertainment. The ruling draws on precedents from the 1984 Betamax case and 2005 Grokster decision.

Following Disney's cease-and-desist letter, Google has removed dozens of AI-generated videos featuring Disney characters from YouTube, addressing claims of copyright infringement in hosting and AI training. This enforcement action continues Disney's aggressive IP protection strategy amid select AI partnerships.

11 Mwezi wa kumi na mbili, 2025 Imeripotiwa na AI

Disney and OpenAI have announced a three-year licensing deal starting in 2026, allowing the AI firm's ChatGPT and Sora tools to generate images and videos using Disney's intellectual property. This pact includes access to over 200 characters from Star Wars, Pixar, and Marvel brands. The agreement highlights contrasting views on copyright between the entertainment giant and the AI company.

AI company Anthropic has agreed to a $1.5 billion settlement in a major copyright infringement case involving pirated works used in AI training. This marks the largest such settlement in US history, with compensation of about $3,000 per work for approximately 500,000 items. The agreement was reached on September 6, 2025.