Google finally replies to Spanish internet news law – we’re bigger than you are, amigo

Google has finally replied to the proposed Spanish Internet Copyright Law, that would, in theory, make Google News illegal unless they paid for every news story they used. In fact, the new law, badly thought out and pandering to elderly news editors who don’t understand the internet, won’t affect Google at all – although it will stifle Spanish innovation. In a blog post here, the head of Spanish Strategic Alliances, Luis Collado, sniffs that Google Continue reading Google finally replies to Spanish internet news law – we’re bigger than you are, amigo

Spain stifles innovation – this new content law is useless.

The government has proposed a new Intellectual Property law that has everyone excited, because it contains what is called a “Google” tax. Note the proposed bit – it hasn’t been voted on yet. We don’t even, it seems, have the full draft of the law, it hasn’t been officially released. But people are excited. Now, the idea is that websites which use content from other people must pay a “fair usage fee”. In theory, it Continue reading Spain stifles innovation – this new content law is useless.

Popeye comes out of copyright in the EU

As from today, Popeye – that happy little sailor spinach dwarf fella – comes out of copyright in the EU. But not the US. It’s 70 years to the day that his creator (Elzie Sagar) died, so out of copyright he comes, and we can all use his picture to sell our homegrown spinach. (Does anybody market homegrown spinach any more?) Just don’t import it to the states, you’ll get sued. By the way, he Continue reading Popeye comes out of copyright in the EU