Juicy licensing deals with AI companies show that publishers don’t really care about creators

One of the many interesting aspects of the current enthusiasm for generative AI is the way that it has electrified the formerly rather sleepy world of copyright. Where before publishers thought they had successfully locked down more or less everything digital with copyright, they now find themselves confronted with deep-pocketed companies – both established ones Read more about Juicy licensing deals with AI companies show that publishers don’t really care about creators[…]

LG Has Started Showing Screensaver Ads on Their Smart TVs | Lifehacker

Like them or not, ads run the world. They’re the reason so much content out there is free of charge—or, at least, less expensive. But while it’s one thing to watch an ad before jumping into a YouTube video, or to see ads surrounding an article, it’s another thing entirely to be forced to see Read more about LG Has Started Showing Screensaver Ads on Their Smart TVs | Lifehacker[…]

Google’s 2.4 billion euro shopping comparison fine upheld by Europe’s top court

Europe’s top court on Tuesday upheld a 2.4 billion euro ($2.65 billion) fine imposed on Google for abusing its dominant position by favoring its own shopping comparison service. [….] The fine stems from an antitrust investigation by the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, which concluded in 2017. The commission said at Read more about Google’s 2.4 billion euro shopping comparison fine upheld by Europe’s top court[…]

Apple Ordered to Pay $14 Billion in Back Taxes to EU

Apple will be required to pay $14 billion in back taxes to Ireland after Europe’s top court released a new ruling on Tuesday, according to a report from the Financial Times. Apple CEO Tim Cook has previously called the case “total political crap” but the judgment is final and Apple will not be able to Read more about Apple Ordered to Pay $14 Billion in Back Taxes to EU[…]

Peloton to charge $95 activation fee for used bikes

Peloton on Thursday said it will start charging new subscribers a one-time $95 activation fee if they bought their hardware on the secondary market as more consumers snag lightly used equipment for a fraction of the typical retail price. […] During its fiscal fourth quarter, which ended June 30, Peloton said it saw a “steady Read more about Peloton to charge $95 activation fee for used bikes[…]

Patreon will have to use Apple’s in-app purchase system or be removed from the App Store. Also only subscriptions now.

Apple takes a lot of strong positions, but their ultimate hill to die on might just be requiring apps to make purchases through the tech giant. The latest example comes from Patreon, which announced that Apple is requiring it to switch over to the iOS in-app purchase system or risk expulsion. Patreon’s entire purpose is Read more about Patreon will have to use Apple’s in-app purchase system or be removed from the App Store. Also only subscriptions now.[…]

Amazon-Anthropic Investment Investigated by UK Government – is it a stealth merger?

The U.K. government has launched a preliminary investigation into the partnership between Amazon and Anthropic to see if it will significantly lessen competition. This comes days after a similar probe was announced into Alphabet’s collaboration with the AI startup. In March, Amazon concluded its $4 billion (£3.16 billion) investment in Anthropic, the company behind the Read more about Amazon-Anthropic Investment Investigated by UK Government – is it a stealth merger?[…]

Apple tries again to make EU officials happy with new fees for in-app purchases

Apple this week revised its alternative contractual terms for devs selling apps in the European Union – a revision that was immediately dismissed by critics as more “malicious compliance.” […] Essentially, Apple has allowed developers in the EU to choose whether they want to use its own In‑App Purchase system for App Store transactions or Read more about Apple tries again to make EU officials happy with new fees for in-app purchases[…]

Warner Bros. Scrubs Cartoon Network Website, Erasing Years of History

Warners Bros. Discovery has not been having a great time recently, and is going through a wave of increasingly desperate cost-cutting initiatives because of it. Several of those movements have felt particularly targeted at the studio’s animated offerings, from its inability to release finished films to selling off its current, past, and would-be successes to other Read more about Warner Bros. Scrubs Cartoon Network Website, Erasing Years of History[…]

Only 5 years too late: British regulators to examine Big Tech’s digital wallets – and where is the EU?

British regulators said on Monday they were looking into the soaring use of digital wallets offered by Big Tech firms, including whether there are any competition, consumer protection or market integrity concerns. The Financial Conduct Authority and Payments Systems Regulator is seeking views on the benefits and risks, and will assess the impact digital wallets, Read more about Only 5 years too late: British regulators to examine Big Tech’s digital wallets – and where is the EU?[…]

Apple settles EU case by opening its iPhone payment system to rivals

The EU on Thursday accepted Apple’s pledge to open its “tap to pay” iPhone payment system to rivals as a way to resolve an antitrust case and head off a potentially hefty fine. The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm and top antitrust enforcer, said it approved the commitments that Apple offered earlier this year Read more about Apple settles EU case by opening its iPhone payment system to rivals[…]

India antitrust probe finds Apple abused position in apps market

NEW DELHI, July 12 (Reuters) – An investigation by India’s antitrust body has found that Apple exploited its dominant position in the market for app stores on its iOS operating system, engaging “in abusive conduct and practices”, a confidential report seen by Reuters showed. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has been investigating Apple Inc Read more about India antitrust probe finds Apple abused position in apps market[…]

European Commission probes Amazon, Temu, Shein over ad recommendation systems

The European Commission has sent a request for information to Amazon on measures taken to comply with a landmark EU law on content moderation, the Digital Services Act (DSA), according to a Friday (5 July) press release. It’s the latest in a barrage of similar requests, accusations, and fines from the EU executive against big Read more about European Commission probes Amazon, Temu, Shein over ad recommendation systems[…]

Dior Paid a Contractor $57 to Make a Bag That Sold for Nearly $2,800 under really bad working conditions

Italian prosecutors in Milan investigated the LVMH subsidiary Dior’s use of third-party suppliers in recent months. Prosecutors said these companies exploited workers to pump out bags for a small fraction of their store price. Citing documents examined by authorities, Reuters reported last month that Dior paid a supplier $57 to produce bags that retailed for Read more about Dior Paid a Contractor $57 to Make a Bag That Sold for Nearly $2,800 under really bad working conditions[…]

Universal income experiment in Denver leads to predictable results – less tax $ spent, less homelessness

An experiment to pay people who were homeless in Denver with no limits on how they could spend the money led to twice as many people in stable housing, according to researchers who released their one-year report Tuesday. More than 800 people were selected to participate in the Denver Basic Income Project while they were Read more about Universal income experiment in Denver leads to predictable results – less tax $ spent, less homelessness[…]

Eindhoven 3D printing service Shapeways files for bankruptcy

The 3D printing service Shapeways, originally from Eindhoven, is bankrupt, both in the Netherlands and the US. Shapeways started in 2007 as a spin-off from Philips. The company let users design and upload their own 3D files, after which Shapeways could print the objects. The company has been listed on the American stock exchange since Read more about Eindhoven 3D printing service Shapeways files for bankruptcy[…]

Manipulators of GameStop shares sue ‘Roaring Kitty’ for manipulating GameStop but withdraw lawsuit for now

NEW YORK, July 1 (Reuters) – Investors in GameStop (GME.N) , opens new tab have for now withdrawn their lawsuit accusing Keith Gill, who is known as “Roaring Kitty” and helped spur the meme stock mania of 2021, of defrauding them through a “pump-and-dump” scheme for the videogame retailer. A proposed class action accusing Gill Read more about Manipulators of GameStop shares sue ‘Roaring Kitty’ for manipulating GameStop but withdraw lawsuit for now[…]

Corrupt US supreme court thinks corruption is not corrupt and just basically legalized bribery

[…] if you’re rich enough, says the US supreme court, you can now pay off state and local officials for government acts that fit your policy preferences or advance your interests. You can give them lavish gifts, send them on vacations, or simply cut them checks. You can do all of this so long as Read more about Corrupt US supreme court thinks corruption is not corrupt and just basically legalized bribery[…]

Nordic Online Store Boozt Blocks Thousands of ‘Serial Returners’

Boozt AB, an online Nordic department store, has banned thousands of customers for returning an excessive number of purchased items. The retailer has blocked about 60,000 of a total 3.5 million customers, in a bid to reduce the significant costs associated with “serial returners,” the company said in a statement. “Their behavior is too expensive Read more about Nordic Online Store Boozt Blocks Thousands of ‘Serial Returners’[…]

EU Commission accuses Microsoft of breaking antitrust rules with bundled Teams app

The European Commission said in a formal ‘statement of objections’ on Tuesday (25 June) that Microsoft had violated EU antitrust rules by bundling its Teams app with its Office 365 and Microsoft 365 productivity suites. The statement follows almost a year-long investigation, and the tech giant told Euractiv it would work to “address the Commission’s Read more about EU Commission accuses Microsoft of breaking antitrust rules with bundled Teams app[…]

E.U. starts swinging DMA, starts with monolithic monopolist Apple

Apple is the first company to be charged with violating the Digital Markets Act, a law passed in 2022 that gives European regulators wide authority to force the largest “online gatekeepers” to change their business practices. The charges signal that the European Union, already known as an aggressive regulator of the tech industry, plans to Read more about E.U. starts swinging DMA, starts with monolithic monopolist Apple[…]

US / EU NATO Expenditure – is the balance really so lopsided?

The visualisation of US vs EU spending on NATO going the rounds is pretty suspect: The Blue area contains not just the USA, but also Canada. The US defence budget is incorrect. It fails to take into account that the US is a global player with ambitions and commitments beyond NATO. It doesn’t show that Read more about US / EU NATO Expenditure – is the balance really so lopsided?[…]

Apple’s ‘incredibly private’ Safari not so private in Europe, allows

Apple’s grudging accommodation of European antitrust rules by allowing third-party app stores on iPhones has left users of its Safari browser exposed to potential web activity tracking. Developers Talal Haj Bakry and Tommy Mysk looked into the way Apple implemented the installation process for third-party software marketplaces on iOS with Safari, and concluded Cupertino’s approach Read more about Apple’s ‘incredibly private’ Safari not so private in Europe, allows[…]

We never agreed to only buy HP ink, say printer owners

HP “sought to take advantage of customers’ sunk costs,” printer owners claimed this week in a class action lawsuit against the hardware giant. Lawyers representing the aggrieved were responding [PDF] in an Illinois court to an earlier HP Inc motion to dismiss a January lawsuit. Among other things, the plaintiffs’ filing stated that the printer Read more about We never agreed to only buy HP ink, say printer owners[…]

Ubisoft is deleting The Crew from players’ libraries, reminding us we own nothing

Ubisoft’s online-only racing game The Crew stopped being operable on April 1. Some users are reporting, however, that things have gone a bit further. They say that the company actually reached into Ubisoft Connect accounts and revoked the license to access the game, according to reports by Game Rant and others. Some of these users Read more about Ubisoft is deleting The Crew from players’ libraries, reminding us we own nothing[…]