Much of the concern around recent management changes at Russian social network vKontakte have focused on free speech, but the IFPI hopes they may also signify a change in approach to copyright. The global music body has renewed its criticism of vKontakte for copyright infringement in the wake of the publication of the latest ‘Notorious Markets’ report from the US Trade Representative, which for the fourth year in a row includes vKontakte on its list of problematic websites. “vKontakte is providing access to tens of thousands of the most popular songs by local and international artists. Calls for action to stop the infringements have been largely ignored,” wrote IFPI boss Frances Moore yesterday, suggesting that if vKontakte is keen for financial investment outside Russia, as has been rumoured, “showing a serious respect of copyright and being a licensed partner of the music industry” should form part of its strategy.
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Tools: Kaiber
In the year or so since its launch, AI startup Kaiber has been making waves,…