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.
Germany's Higher Administrative Court of North Rhine-Westphalia ruled that teleshopping broadcasters, including QVC, are not entitled to 'public value' status. This decision impacts how these channels are classified and potentially regulated within the country's media landscape.
IAB Tech Lab has released new guidance on AI system bot management strategies for public comment. This initiative aims to address the growing challenge of sophisticated bot attacks and invalid traffic, particularly in the context of AI-driven systems. The guidance seeks to provide advertisers and publishers with clear frameworks to identify and mitigate bot activity.
AudioShake launched a new automated copyright compliance system for mixed media. Early customers for the system include ESPN, NFL Films, Jaywalker Music, CrunchLabs, Music Reports, and amp.
South Korean authorities have arrested YouTuber Kim Se-ui on suspicion of using AI and doctored materials to defame actor Kim Soo-hyun. This marks a legal action against the use of artificial intelligence for content defamation.
AI-generated deepfakes and fake endorsements involving Indian celebrities are prompting legal action and exposing a vacuum in India's celebrity rights protection laws. This development highlights the challenges of existing legal frameworks in addressing synthetic media issues.
This article discusses the "TAKE IT DOWN Act," which is recent legislation aimed at curbing the dissemination of non-consensual intimate images, while also highlighting the inherent limitations of its scope. It implies that while the act promises to address this issue, its effectiveness is not absolute.
Willow TV has agreed to settle a video privacy class action lawsuit, potentially offering cash payments to subscribers who watched prerecorded videos between July 2021 and September 2023. The settlement allows eligible sports fans to file a claim for this payout.
This article discusses the ability for Amazon and Starlink to bid on European LEO (Low Earth Orbit) spectrum, likely facilitating their satellite internet services in the region. Without further article text, specific details on regulatory bodies, bidding processes, or the direct impact on streaming video cannot be provided.
A Madrid court has ruled in favor of Spain's public broadcaster, RTVE, rejecting an attempt by commercial broadcasters to prevent RTVE from selling advertising packages tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This decision allows RTVE to proceed with its plans to commercialize advertising during the major sporting event.
The UK Court of Appeal's ruling in the Acer Inc and ASUSTek Computer Inc v Nokia Technologies Oy case establishes arbitration as a significant forum for global FRAND disputes. This decision will influence how Standard Essential Patent (SEP) licensing negotiations are conducted globally. The ruling focuses on the jurisdiction and application of FRAND principles in patent licensing.
The UK Prime Minister has summoned senior leaders from Meta, Snap, Google (YouTube), TikTok, and X to Downing Street to discuss children's online safety. This meeting is part of a government consultation, "Growing Up in the Online World," aimed at creating new legislation to protect children from social media harms, with proposals including minimum age requirements and limits on addictive design features. The government has stated its intention to act swiftly on legislative powers once the consultation concludes.
During CRTC Canadian content definition hearings, streaming services (MPA-Canada) advocated for production-based obligations consistent with their business models, while Canadian broadcasters (Corus Entertainment) pushed for equitable and increased financial contributions from streamers. Telefilm Canada, the NFB, and the Indigenous Screen Office underscored the importance of 'programs of national interest' (PNI) and suggested specific allocations for Indigenous creators and French language content. The discussions centered on revising contribution requirements and PNI for online and traditional undertakings under the Online Streaming Act.
Apple Inc. has filed an application with the U.S. Supreme Court, addressed to Justice Elena Kagan, to stay the mandate of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Apple is seeking a stay pending its forthcoming petition for a writ of certiorari, arguing that the Ninth Circuit's civil contempt finding regarding App Store commissions and the universal scope of its injunction warrant Supreme Court review due to circuit splits and disregard for established equitable limits. The company contends that it faces irreparable harm if it is forced to proceed with remand proceedings under the current rulings, which could reshape the global app market.
Unified Streaming is integrating support for C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity) specifications into its streaming solutions. This initiative aims to combat misinformation and deepfakes by embedding content credentials, ensuring the authenticity and transparency of streamed video. The integration allows content rights holders and distributors to maintain the verifiable origin and history of media throughout the streaming workflow.
Kineton and the HbbTV Association announced the second International Plugfest and HbbTV Testing Event from June 22-26, 2026, in Naples, Italy. The event aims to foster interoperability and validate the HbbTV Test Suite v2026-2, covering technologies such as UHD-4K/8K, HDR, HFR, NGA, HbbTV, DVB-I, and HDMI. Participants will include TV device manufacturers, broadcasters, and technology providers for testing and validation of AV products and software.
Qualabs highlights its involvement in the video tech community through participation in industry events like NAB Show 2026 and FOKUS Media Web Symposium, and by organizing and supporting various video technology meetups globally. The company emphasizes its contributions to open-source projects, including CMCD Validator, CMCD Video.js Plugin, WebRTC Meetup Platform, Common Media Library, and CMAF HAM, fostering collaboration among video engineers.
Italian authorities, supported by Eurojust, disrupted the CINEMAGOAL piracy app, which provided unauthorized access to streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+ by stealing authentication codes. The operation, named "Tutto Chiaro," involved 100 searches, server seizures in France and Germany, and led to the identification of subscribers potentially facing penalties. The Guardia di Finanza estimates the illegal streaming business caused damages of approximately €300 million to legitimate platforms.
India's government and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) are examining Airtel's new 'Priority Postpaid' service, which utilizes 5G network slicing to offer superior network experience to postpaid users. Authorities are investigating potential non-compliance with net neutrality norms and any deterioration of service quality for prepaid users. Airtel states internal tests show improved network experience for all users.
The CRTC has altered its regulations concerning foreign streaming services operating in Canada. This change was discussed with Mario Mota, a partner at Boon Dog Professional Services, a media and policy research consultancy.
MPTS has announced a seminar titled "Delivering Value With Media Technology Innovation: Real-World Workflows & Outcomes" for its 2026 program. The session, scheduled for May 13, 2026, will feature speakers from Consulting Cube, Zixi, Mediagenix, Arrk Media, Ateme, and Hearst Networks to discuss how new media technologies translate into business value.
An HbbTV Symposium 2025 roundtable discussed how HbbTV can facilitate market expansion for broadcasters and technology providers, focusing on hybrid distribution methods combining satellite and streaming. The discussion highlighted HbbTV's role in simplifying multi-platform deployment, enabling new monetization strategies through targeted advertising, and navigating diverse market conditions including regulatory frameworks and infrastructure variations.
Agora Lab, Inc. has published its Data Privacy Framework Notice, outlining its standards and procedures for handling Personal Information. This notice confirms adherence to the EU-U.S., UK Extension to the EU-U.S., and Swiss-U.S. Data Privacy Frameworks (DPF). The document details how Agora processes data in compliance with these international privacy regulations.
The article details Agora's infringement policy, outlining procedures for addressing claims of copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property infringement. It specifies how to submit a notice of infringement, including required content such as identification of the infringed work and a statement under penalty of perjury, and also describes the counter-notification process for users whose content has been removed. The policy aims to comply with applicable intellectual property laws, including the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
Agora Lab, Inc. published a Processor Privacy Statement detailing how it processes and uses Personal Information when users interact with its services via Customer Applications. The statement outlines user rights and methods for contacting the company regarding privacy concerns.
Agora has published its Extensions Marketplace Copyright and Trademark Infringement Policy. This policy outlines guidelines for content, resources, materials, and services available through its Extensions Marketplace regarding intellectual property rights.
The European Commission is set to adopt a decision this week favoring European satellite operators for 2 GHz radio spectrum allocation, aiming to limit the expansion of non-EU satellite internet providers like Starlink and Amazon Kuiper in Europe. This move is part of the EU's "Tech Sovereignty Package" to reduce reliance on foreign technology, potentially triggering a backlash from the US government. The decision will also influence the future of direct-to-device communications, which could see satellites connecting directly to smartphones.
A Greenpeace report warns that the surge in power-hungry AI data centers in Australia threatens the country's energy transition, projecting data centers could demand more new electricity than cars or homes by 2040. This demand could lead to increased reliance on fossil fuels, prompting calls for new data centers to source power from new renewables and for greater transparency regarding energy use and emissions. Australian government bodies are considering proposals to require data centers to fully offset their power consumption with new renewable energy.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced plans to increase the tax on online streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime from five percent to 15 percent of their total Canadian revenue. This decision, implemented under the Online Streaming Act, is criticized for potentially raising consumer costs and exacerbating trade tensions between Canada and the United States, particularly concerning the CUSMA renewal negotiations.
The NCTA, NAB, and Motion Picture Association (MPA) submitted comments to the FCC regarding the transparency of the television ratings process. The FCC had issued a notice seeking public input on this topic.
The HbbTV Association has launched an "HbbTV Application Showcase" to exhibit real-world applications of its specification. This showcase will feature functionalities such as interactive advertising, program enhancements, on-demand catalogs, EPGs, FAST Channel access, gaming, accessibility services, and addressable advertising. The initiative aims to provide insights into the capabilities of HbbTV in various streaming contexts.
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) not to reclassify virtual multichannel video programming distributors (vMVPDs). This comes as broadcasters and the NAB have been advocating for changes to retransmission consent negotiation rules with streamers like YouTube TV.
Free Press has filed comments asserting the FCC lacks authority to regulate children's programming ratings. This action responds to conservative groups urging the FCC to implement TV warning labels for transgender and nonbinary content.
HDR10+ Technologies is launching the Eclipsa Video Certification Program, a new standard based on a SMPTE specification. This program aims to deliver improved video performance for devices and content that support HDR10+ dynamic metadata.
Via Licensing Alliance has expanded its Voice Codec patent pool by adding a new unnamed licensee and two new licensors, NovaVoice Limited and Cordial IP. This growth in licensors and licensees signifies increasing industry adoption of collaborative licensing for voice technologies like EVS and IVAS, driven by the rollout of 5G and 5G-Advanced networks. Via also published its full rate structure for the Voice Codec pool, aiming to provide transparency and predictability for implementers.
Brazil's Ministry of Communications, Anatel, and Seja Digital will deploy BRL 20 million to accelerate the rollout of 5G technology. The funding is intended to expedite infrastructure development for the new mobile standard.
A court ruling in BitHarmony, LLC v. Amazon.com, Inc. found three streaming patents ineligible under Section 101, but deemed one eligible after it survived Alice Step Two. This decision follows all four patents failing Alice Step One, as reported by Holland & Knight LLP.
Ofcom, the UK regulator, has initiated fresh scrutiny against TikTok and YouTube following their failure to adequately explain how their recommendation systems prevent harmful content from reaching children. This action occurs as other social media platforms like Snap, Meta, and Roblox have agreed to implement new measures to combat grooming.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced that online streaming services operating in Canada must contribute 5% of their Canadian revenues to support the Canadian broadcasting system, starting in the 2024-2025 broadcast year. This decision, resulting from the Online Streaming Act, is expected to generate an estimated $200 million annually for areas including local news, French-language content, Indigenous content, and content from various equity-deserving communities. Online streaming services will have some flexibility in directing parts of their contributions to support Canadian television content directly.
SAG-AFTRA's National Board has approved the tentative 2026 TV/Theatrical Contracts with the AMPTP and is recommending members vote yes for ratification. The four-year deal, set to run from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2030, includes gains in AI protections, streaming residuals, and a framework for merging the SAG Pension Plan and AFTRA Retirement Fund. Voting for eligible members opened on May 14, 2026, and closes on June 4, 2026.
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) of Nigeria has defended its new "Big Picture" hybrid strategy for the country's Digital Switch-Over (DSO), scheduling a national launch for June 17, 2026, and a final analogue switch-off for December 31, 2028. The strategy will integrate Direct-to-Home (DTH), Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), and Internet Protocol (IP)-based broadcasting, including satellite services via NigComSat, to achieve nationwide digital coverage. This initiative aims to unlock Nigeria's advertising market through improved audience measurement and free up valuable spectrum for over $1 billion in auction proceeds.
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has expressed approval for a site-blocking order from the UK High Court of Justice. This order is intended to streamline the process for blocking access to infringing websites.
Apple's upcoming iOS 27 update may introduce native support for Google Cast and other third-party streaming protocols, allowing users to send media from iPhones to TVs and speakers without requiring explicit app support. This change is reportedly driven by the European Union's Digital Markets Act, which has mandated greater interoperability from Apple.
A negotiator of the European AI Law warns of a significant imbalance between technology companies and the cultural sector, indicating early legislative efforts by the European Union to regulate Artificial Intelligence. The statement highlights the EU's pioneering role in defining the scope of AI technology through legislation.
This article discusses the importance for businesses to understand their role in the context of the EU AI Act due to its significant compliance and risk implications. It highlights that misunderstanding how a business uses AI can lead to overlooked risks under the new regulations.
The European Union (EU) is reportedly preparing to fine Google for alleged Digital Markets Act (DMA) breaches. This action precedes a final decision expected in the summer, according to a report from Handelsblatt via Reuters.
The European Union is preparing to issue a potentially record-breaking fine against Google under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This fine would target Google's alleged dominance in search. The article indicates this could be the largest DMA penalty to date.
The European Union (EU) is preparing to impose a "high triple-digit million euro fine" on Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc. This penalty is related to an antitrust case concerning Google's search practices under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The European Commission is planning to fine Google for violations under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) related to its search practices. The potential fine could reach up to 10% of Google's global turnover.
The European Commission is reportedly planning to fine Google a high triple-digit million euro amount following an antitrust investigation. The company faces allegations related to its advertising technology business.
The European Union is preparing to fine Google hundreds of millions of euros. This penalty is reportedly for breaching the Digital Markets Act.
