German authors pull veil off YouTube

ITRealms:

German authors rights society under the aegis of GEMA has advanced a licence agreement with YouTube thereby settling a long lasting legal battle regarding royalties, reports ITRealms..

The music videos, ITRealms gathered, was blocked for copyright reasons through a caption in Germany.

Sources at GEMA, said the contract signed on November 1, 2016 constitutes “a milestone for a fair remuneration of music authors in the digital age.”

In addition, Broadband Tv reports that the amount YouTube pays per video watched by an internet user in Germany has not been disclosed. In January 2016, GEMA lost a legal case against YouTube at the regional appeal court in Munich in which the society claimed 0.375 Euro cent per video. The figure both sides agreed on now is likely to be lower, according to industry sources. The agreement also contains a retroactive payment for videos watched since 2009, the year in which the legal dispute began.

GEMA represents around 70,000 music authors and publishers who are now going to receive royalties for the usage of their musical works protected by copyright. The ongoing court cases will be terminated, the previous verdicts will not come into force.

Besides the conventional ad-supported service, the agreement also covers the new subscription service YouTube Red that YouTube already offers in the USA and plans to roll out in Europe.

“The conclusion of this contract with YouTube is a clear signal to all online platforms that successfully build their business models on the musical works of creatives,” Thomas Theune, director of broadcast and online at GEMA, said in Munich. “Authors must be fairly remunerated for the exploitation of their musical works. GEMA will continue to actively pursue this goal.”

There are still, however, different legal positions held by YouTube and GEMA regarding the question whether YouTube or the uploaders are responsible for the licensing of the used musical works. GEMA calls for a political solution to establish a fair legal framework on this issue.

Chuks Egbune/GEE 

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Nigeria Innovation Summit sets to pull global support

ITRealms:

The Nigeria Innovation Summit (NIS) is set to pull global support in promotion of the nation’s revolution to the global effort at closing digital divide, reports ITRealms.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Emerging Media, Mr. Kenneth Omeruo said that the economic challenge that Nigeria faces today is one that calls for innovation across different sectors of the economy.

To accomplish this, he said more-effective products, processes, services, technologies, and business models are readily made available to markets, governments and society.

The term ‘innovation’ he said, could be defined as something original and more effective and, as a consequence, new, that breaks into the market or society and drive great economic development.

“The Nigeria Innovation Summit is set to promote Innovation across different sectors of Nigeria's economy,” he declared.

According to him, NIS with the 2016 theme ‘Innovation: A Key Driver of Economic Growth and Sustainable Development,’ holds on November 3 and 4 at Sheraton Lagos Hotel Ikeja; is an annual event that focuses on the need for the country, businesses, organisations, entrepreneurs in Nigeria to become more innovative and apply revolution to drive sustainable development as well as work together to bridge the digital divide.

“This summit will help Nigeria embrace innovation and move in the direction of digital transformation through the use of Emerging Technologies and trends, research, development, commercialization, entrepreneurship and investments as the key drivers of an innovation ecosystem,” Omeruo said.

He pointed out that the platform creates awareness on the need for open innovation in Nigeria, thus challenges various sectors of the economy to leverage on innovation and become more competitive in the global economy.

NIS, he further said, is an initiative led by Emerging Media & Advertising Services, New York and Emerging Media Nigeria.

“We partner with the world's leading innovation providers from academia, government and industry to connect Nigerian businesses and innovators to global innovation ecosystems,” Omeruo said.

The key features of the Nigeria Innovation Summit, he said include the keynote presentations and panel discussions from industry leaders, government, investors, leading companies, international organisations, top entrepreneurs, CEOs, business leaders, innovation managers across the world and decision makers across the focus sectors.

In addition, he said, there will be Nigeria Innovation Awards to recognize and promote companies, organisations, institutions, innovators that have embraced innovation across different sectors of Nigeria economy.

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