TikTok, formerly Musical.ly, may be in trouble with the law again. TikTok is an app that allows users to create short videos with special effects, filters, music. etcetera and then upload them to their app for the public to view. Recently, TikTok settled a case for $5.7 million in response to allegations that they violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. Now, they could be in trouble for copyright theft according to the National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA). According to Music Business Worldwide, the NMPA president sent a letter to Sen. Marco Rubio; in it he stated, “We hope that if Congress looks further into matters relating to TikTok that copyright theft is included in the scope of its examination." TikTok is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, which is why the NMPA needs Congress to intervene in the situation. A spokesperson from TikTok responded to the allegations stating, "TikTok has broad licensing coverage across the music publishing industry covering many thousands of publishers and songwriters and millions of copyrights, and has paid royalties since its inception." If you want to know more about copyright law, how it effects you and why its important read "Copyright" or you can read a real case in "Copyright Law and the Fair Use Doctrine" (Don't worry its not as dry as it sounds.)
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