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Regulation

Facebook reinforces commitment to transparency

Facebook has released its Transparency Report, previously called the Government Requests Report, for the first half of 2017. For the first time, it is expanding the report beyond government requests to provide data regarding reports from rights holders related to intellectual property (IP) — covering copyright, trademark, and counterfeit. The report also includes the same […]

December 19, 2017By Colin Mann

Turksat hits demonstrators with lawsuit

The July 2016 demonstrations across Turkey, and which resulted in mass arrests of demonstrators, has now seen Turksat start legal proceedings against the opposition Gulenist party, and its leader Fetullah Gülen. 162 suspects, many already in custody, are named in the action. Turksat is claiming $1.8 million in damages. Turksat’s headquarters in Ankara were hit […]

December 19, 2017

India doubles STB tax

India has slapped a 20 per cent import tariff on set-top boxes, up from 10 per cent, as part of its scheme to encourage more local production. Most locals see the move as a means of curbing the supply of equipment from China. Typically, the country imports about 10 million STBs a month, while the […]

December 18, 2017By Chris Forrester

FCC ends net neutrality

As anticipated, the US Federal Communications Commission has voted three-to-two along party lines to restore what it says is the longstanding, bipartisan light-touch regulatory framework that has fostered rapid Internet growth, openness, and freedom for nearly 20 years. Following detailed legal and economic analysis, as well as extensive examination of comments from consumers and stakeholders, […]

December 15, 2017By Colin Mann

VR Industry Forum to publish industry guidelines at CES

The Virtual Reality Industry Forum (VRIF) has announced the general availability of its first set of VR Industry Guidelines, which includes topics relevant for VR content production, distribution, security and consumption. At CES 2018, VRIF will present the new guidelines in its 2-hour masterclass, outline its 2018 roadmap, and showcase VR demonstrations from Fraunhofer and […]

December 15, 2017

AIMS and MNA merge

The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) is merging with the Media Networking Alliance (MNA) to form a single trade association for promoting IP in the media and entertainment industry. The merger comes after a two-year history of collaboration, and it will enable the organisations to have an even greater impact on the industries they […]

December 15, 2017

Disney, Fox deal confirmed

In an move that complements and enhances The Walt Disney Company’s ability to provide consumers around the world with more appealing content and entertainment options, the entertainment giant has agreed to acquire 21st Century Fox, including the Twentieth Century Fox Film and Television studios, along with cable and international TV businesses, for $52.4 billion in stock. Including […]

December 14, 2017

MPs approve Burns for Ofcom Chair

The UK House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee has endorsed the appointment of Lord (Terry) Burns as the new Chair of Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, following a hearing before the DCMS members. Burns, the Government’s preferred candidate for the role, will replace Dame Patricia Hodgson in January 2018. It is a […]

December 14, 2017By Colin Mann

EU Parliament rejects digital content Single Market

The European Parliament has confirmed by 365 to 256 that the ability of users to access all their media across Europe will be restricted to news and current affairs – effectively upholding geoblocking on most content and flying in the face of the Commission’s Digital Single Market proposals. The EC’s SatCab proposals had been designed […]

December 13, 2017

Disney, Fox deal expected

The move by the Walt Disney Co to acquire much of the Murdoch family’s 21st Century Fox movie-to-TV empire very much looks like happening this week. The deal has been valued as costing Disney some $60 billion (€51bn). Comcast dropped out of the rumoured bidding process for Fox on December 10th. Various sources say the […]

December 13, 2017By Chris Forrester