Policy Advocacy

Today the Copyright Office released its formal report regarding the challenges of copyright litigation in Federal Court and recommended establishing a small claims court for copyright law. New Media Rights has been heavily involved in these proceedings and the report makes that obvious. New Media Rights is quoted six times and New Media Rights Executive Director is directly quoted by the Copyright Office twice.

New Media Rights saw early on that a new small claims court would have a dramatic impact on independent creators, internet users, and entrepreneurs. We've shared our expertise with the Copyright Office in order to ensure that any new system respects fair use and provides a fair and just system for resolution of copyright disputes, not simply a new venue for content bullying.

For picture: Jenga Some rights reserved by lucidtech

Teenager posts a stupid/reckless/illegal/vulgar thing online, chaos ensues. It’s become a staple of court dockets and headlines across the country. It’s hardly surprising that lawmakers have picked up on this problem and set out to solve it.  The latest attempt that has just become law is California’s Senate Bill No. 568. Best case scenario the bill merely fails to protect teenagers and worst case scenario it’s an entirely unenforceable waste of taxpayer money.

San Diego Python Users, Sandiegojs and SD Game Art and Design Meetup Groups will be hosting New Media Rights Staff Attorney Teri Karobonik and California Western School of Law 3L Lauren Brady to talk about copyright for video game development. Join us at Ansir Innovation Center on 9/26/13 at 7PM. The event is free and open to the public. For more information check out the Meetup page here!

Photo courtesy of fedcomitie under a Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution License

New Media Rights in partnership with FAB LAB SD and Ansir Innovation center present an evening of one-on-one short legal advice sessions for 3D printer entrepreneurs and enthusiasts.  New Media Rights will help answer questions such as:

• Is my design copyrightable?
• May I make a design using my favorite character?
• How do I respond to a DMCA takedown notice of my design?

New Media Rights will hold the event on September 19, 2013 from 4-8PM.  All legal advice session spots have been filled, but a waitlist is available here.

Media Literacy Project is an Albuquerque, New Mexico based nonprofit.  Through education and grassroots campaigns, Media Literacy Project works to help people become “critical media consumers and engaged media justice advocates who deconstruct media, inform media policy, and create media that reflect their lived experience.”

Sometimes government or corporate interests don’t appreciate their criticism.  Recently, New Media Rights stepped in and helped ensure they were not unfairly silenced.

New Media Rights is proud to announce that for the second year in a row, the City of San Diego Office of Small Business has awarded New Media Rights a Citywide Small Business Enhancement Program grant. The grant will support our free and low cost legal services for local tech and media startups.

The panel also had lots of great things to say about our work.  Read the whole story to learn more!