Streaming Regulation, Codec Licensing & Media Policy News
Standards bodies and regulators quietly decide what becomes mandatory long before it reaches a press release. This category follows DRM and anti-piracy enforcement, codec licensing and patent pools, AI training-data copyright, and net neutrality and privacy rules shaping the industry.
ION Video has filed its fourth foundational patent related to its Virtual Video intellectual property portfolio. The patent focuses on authenticating human-created video content at a binary level. This development aims to secure video origin and combat synthetic media.
CNN has filed a copyright lawsuit against Perplexity AI, alleging unauthorized scraping of approximately 17,000 news stories. The legal action from the renowned media outlet on Thursday targets the AI company for its reported content acquisition practices.
The article discusses the rollout of age verification applications by countries and private companies to restrict children's access to online content. It highlights that this approach, while intended to limit access, may also introduce significant privacy and security risks. The piece serves as a 'fast facts' overview of this emerging trend.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) believes that radio and TV license holders continue to face an excessive burden concerning regulatory fees from the FCC.
Thirteen European cloud providers, EU lawmakers, and NGOs are backing the European Commission's initiative to reduce reliance on US technology. This push aims to enhance data sovereignty and digital independence within the EU.
European operators have been allocated the majority of mobile satellite spectrum, with one-third reserved for governmental use. This new allocation system designates spectrum for security and military applications.
The CRTC issued Telecom Order 2026-110, which approves Broadband Fund payment holdback reports for May 2026. This order references previous Telecom Orders CRTC 2022-189 and CRTC 2022-93.
Lord Grade, former head of Ofcom, has proposed a two-year trial ban on social media for individuals under the age of 16. This measure is intended as a "wake-up call" to tech companies regarding their practices.
Indian TV broadcasters are planning to appeal a Delhi High Court ruling to the Supreme Court, which upheld the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (Trai) power to enforce a 12-minute per hour advertisement cap. Broadcasters state this restriction will negatively impact their advertising revenue, on which the industry heavily relies.
The Delhi High Court has declined to halt the OTT release of "Dhurandhar: The Revenge" amid a copyright dispute regarding the song “Tirchi Topiwale.” While refusing an interim injunction against Trimurti Films, the court ordered T-Series to deposit Rs 50 lakh (approximately $60,000 USD) with the Registrar General of the High Court.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is exploring the implementation of new content ratings for television programs that feature discussions or portrayals of gender identity. This potential regulatory change is currently under consideration by the commission.
This article discusses the issue of outdated records regarding FCC Part 74 fixed microwave links utilized by radio and TV stations. The problem has been highlighted by Southern California frequency coordinator Howard Fine. The outdated records potentially leave these microwave links at risk.
Disney's ABC has submitted its broadcast license renewal applications to the FCC "under protest." This action follows an FCC Media Bureau order requiring ABC to reapply for spectrum licenses for its eight owned-and-operated stations on an accelerated schedule.
A campaign advocating for the reintroduction of free TV licences for all pensioners in the UK is gaining support.
Thousands have reportedly backed the movement, which calls on the Government to restore the benefit.
Former President Trump stated on Truth Social that the U.S. movie industry is declining and threatened 100 percent tariffs on foreign films. This action is proposed due to other countries offering incentives to filmmakers, thus drawing production away from the U.S.
Connect Europe has published a legal opinion regarding the European Commission's proposals for a fibre transition. The opinion addresses the legal implications of these proposals.
India's parliamentary committee is slated to discuss telecom quality of service and Net Neutrality. Additionally, India secured support to host the International Telecommunication Union's Plenipotentiary Conference in 2030.
Meta, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat have collectively agreed to pay $27 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Kentucky's Breathitt County School District. The lawsuit alleged harm caused by the named social media platforms. This payment resolves the legal dispute in Kentucky.
The article discusses concerns in India regarding 5G network slicing and its potential impact on regular internet users due to spectrum scarcity and market dynamics. Regulators are called upon to ensure fair deployment of this technology and prevent potential service quality degradation for some users. The issue centers on the allocation and management of network resources for enhanced enterprise services versus general internet access.
DirecTV subscribers in 36 markets have lost access to 54 local TV stations due to an ongoing retransmission consent dispute between DirecTV and Scripps. This blackout affects viewers' ability to watch local programming on the DirecTV service.
The Director General of Kosovo's public broadcaster, Zana Spahiu, stated that upcoming changes to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) statutes offer hope for Kosovo's participation in Eurovision. The article focuses on the potential for regulatory changes within EBU to allow new member inclusions.
This article discusses hypothetical scenarios that could lead to a significant reduction in the UK TV Licence fee, potentially to as low as £7.50. These scenarios include the BBC transitioning to a subscription model, adoption of an advertising model, or merging with Channel 4 to form a new publicly-funded streaming service. These changes would be a result of the ongoing debate in the UK regarding the future of public service broadcasting.
UK online safety minister Kanishka Narayan is considering a social media ban and restrictions on gaming platforms to prevent child exploitation. These measures would apply to teenagers as part of broader online safety actions.
Brazil is enacting new regulations, known as ECA Digital, to implement a safety-by-design approach for online content, focusing on the protection of minors. This new framework shifts from ex post liability to preventative measures, including age verification.
The EU AI Act is scheduled for full enforcement in 2026, establishing a global standard for AI regulation. This legislative action sets binding rules for corporate compliance protocols related to artificial intelligence.
The NFL has initiated a lobbying effort at the FCC, with top executives engaging in discussions regarding its media strategy. This action comes amidst increased federal scrutiny concerning sports streaming models.
The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) has welcomed a verdict from the Paris Judicial Court. ACE states that the ruling clearly confirms their position in anti-piracy efforts.
Eclipsa Video is progressing towards certification for the new open source video standard, HDR10+. This development indicates a potential new HDR standard becoming available.
IAB UK has launched the UK's first industry-backed Creator Qualification, a 90-minute course developed by the ASA focusing on disclosure. This initiative comes as 84% of brands plan to increase their use of creators.
India's sovereign cloud initiative, driven by MeitY guidelines for sensitive data, is expanding beyond localization to foster a $30 billion data-center data boom by 2030. This push is influenced by the need to handle sensitive government data like tax and land systems within the country.
Meta's AI glasses are officially launching in Asian markets like Japan and Korea. This launch is raising privacy concerns due to anxieties over 'invisible recording' capabilities.
A report from the CRTC indicates that Canadians aged 55 and older continue to form the largest audience for cable television news. The report also notes a general trend of Canadians moving away from conventional TV. These findings were presented by the CRTC, Canada's telecommunications regulator.
The article discusses the critical need for global OTT platforms to implement multi-region content compliance strategies, addressing various regional regulations such as BCCC, BBFC, FCC, and Ofcom. It highlights how AI-assisted moderation can help manage these diverse and evolving content regulations efficiently across different territories. This emphasizes regulatory adherence as a key operational consideration for streaming services.
The article discusses the global trend of imposing streaming levies on services like Netflix and outlines South Africa's plans to implement such a levy by 2026. This initiative aims to generate revenue from international streaming platforms.
FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty has stated that broadcast policy should support free access to sports content. This statement comes amidst growing frustration from American sports fans regarding the increasing trend of sports content moving behind streaming paywalls.
This article from the Taxpayers Protection Alliance argues that foreign regulations, such as content quotas, special taxes, discoverability mandates, and compulsory contributions, negatively impact American consumers. The piece contends that these policies hurt streaming platforms and increase costs for US consumers. It focuses on the European Union's regulatory landscape as an example of such protectionism.
The EU Commission proposed new rules for its spectrum allocation, aiming to reserve at least two-thirds of available frequencies for European satellite companies. This regulatory change could significantly impact how spectrum is utilized across the EU. The proposal focuses on ensuring European entities have priority access to these frequencies.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed changes to federal grant administration, which would impact recipients of broadband funding, including those from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). These changes cover areas such as indirect costs, domestic preferences, climate change, and research security, aiming to improve transparency and efficiency.
The CRTC has announced a new ruling requiring online streamers to allocate 15% of their annual revenues to support Canadian content. This decision follows consultations regarding online content regulation. The mandate directly impacts the financial operational models of streaming platforms in Canada.
A YouTube video with the headline "CRTC Streaming Tax Will Raise Costs for Canadians" is mentioned. The video is unavailable, but the title indicates a discussion about the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and the potential cost implications of a streaming tax for Canadian consumers.
The article is a landing page for the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), providing access to its latest decisions, upcoming announcements, past decisions, and information on applications. It serves as a central hub for regulatory updates from the CRTC.
The Free Speech Union is asking businesses that have been contacted by Ofcom regarding Online Safety Act (OSA) compliance to reach out to them. They are offering legal assistance to those impacted by Ofcom's inquiries into the new regulations.
UK regulator Ofcom is investigating the airing of an interview with Donald Trump where he referred to climate change as a "hoax." The investigation centers on broadcasts that included these comments. The article consists of a headline repeated twice and provides no further details on the nature or scope of the investigation.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a seven-page Public Notice on May 28, 2026, to remind broadcasters of their "longstanding public interest" obligations. This notice aims to clarify the FCC's expectations regarding broadcasters' roles and responsibilities to serve their communities.
The Federal Communications Commission's Media Bureau has established the pleading cycle and ex parte procedures for Bridge News, LLC's early license renewal applications. These applications were filed on May 27, 2026, initiating the formal process for their review.
The article describes the FCC's alleged use of the license renewal process to penalize a broadcaster for its editorial choices. This action is framed as an "extraordinary demonstration of power and coercion" by the regulatory body.
ETSI's work program includes a detailed report for Work Item TR 138 744, identified as RTR/TSGR-0238744vj01, under the 3GPP RAN 2 Technical Body. This indicates ongoing standardization efforts related to this technical report, though the standard is not yet available for download.
This YouTube video, titled "CHNUG 3 - Network Observability Innovations at the IETF," features a presentation from the Swiss Network User Group (CHNUG). The content focuses on innovations in network observability within the context of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), suggesting a technical discussion around network standards and developments.
The CRTC has announced new regulations to support Canadian and Indigenous content on streaming services, effective September 1, 2024. These rules require platforms to contribute 5% of their Canadian revenues to funds supporting Canadian music, film, television, and news, with specific allocations for Indigenous, French-language, and other diverse content. This initiative follows the Online Streaming Act (Bill C-11) and aims to invest approximately $200 million annually into the Canadian content industry.
The EU plans to launch a comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing its technological dependence on American firms. This initiative will specifically focus on supporting European alternatives in technology and artificial intelligence. The goal is to enhance the EU's autonomy in these critical sectors.