“Google will have to turn over every record of every video watched by YouTube users, including users’ names and IP addresses, to Viacom, which is suing Google for allowing clips of its copyright videos to appear on YouTube, a judge ruled Wednesday.”
Tag: 07.02.08
“Reality” Art On The Rise
“The mingling of art and reality is something that appears to be on the rise, with a number of artists enlisting members of the public to help create their work.”
Actors, Broadway Producers Agree On Contract
The actors’ union and Broadway theater producers reached a tentative agreement for a new contract Wednesday, averting the possibility of a strike such as the one that shut down Broadway for almost three weeks in November.
Germany To Boost Spending On Culture
“Germany’s coalition government has agreed to up its culture budget by 1.5% to E1.13 billion ($1.8 billion), part of which will go to extending the country’s hugely popular $95 million-a-year Federal Film Fund through 2012.”
Record Numbers Flocked To British Museum In 2007
“More than 850,000 people viewed the attraction, giving the museum its highest attendance figures since the Tutankhamun display of 1972. The collection boosted overall visitor figures from 2007-08 to six million.”
TV Writers Concerned About Increasing Product Placements
“Screenwriters have spoken out against proposals to allow product placement on UK television, claiming the move would give them less editorial control and see advertisers and sponsors dictate a show’s dramatic content.”
Who Needs A Cultural Olympics?
“From the end of August until 2012, Britain will host (and pay for) a ‘Cultural Olympiad’, programmed by order of the International Olympic Committee as an essential ancillary to the sporting events. I’d like to ask bluntly: who wants it, who needs it?”
Actors Union, Studios Meet Again To Discuss Contract
“Contrary to the studios’ assertions, SAG leaders have suggested the door remained open for further negotiations. But it was not clear whether SAG planned to bring a counterproposal to the meeting, and if the union did so, whether the studios would even consider it.”
Music Sales Down 11 Percent In 2008
“CD sales have been a prime culprit in the sales dip, as they are off more than 16% from 2007 levels, which were significantly down from the year prior. Digital sales, however, continue to grow dramatically. Digital album sales are up 34% to 31.6 million units, which represent 15.5% of all album sales.”
The Art Market – A Robust Top End, But In The Middle?
“Christie’s and Sotheby’s, the world’s two top auctioneers, have just completed a series of summer sales in London that raised more than $1-billion, underlining how resilient the top end of the market is despite growing economic gloom. But falling share prices, inflationary pressures and rising costs of oil appear to be taking their toll on the middle market.”