The DCMS calls for a complete reset of the music streaming industry

06 August, 2021
Following a wide-spread inquiry, the Digital, Cultural, Media and Sports Committee (DCMS) published a report which has called for a complete reset of the music streaming market. The proposed reform of legislation and regulation is aimed at addressing the: ‘pitiful returns’ that creators receive from streaming; disparity in power between creators and companies; major music … Read more

Introduction to Non-Fungible Tokens and their potential applications in the media and entertainment industry

15 July, 2021
Non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”) have been dominating technology columns in the media lately. Items that would previously not have been considered traditionally ‘marketable’ or high value are now being sold for eye-watering sums. For example, a digital artwork by Beeple sold for US$69 million, a token of Jack Dorsey’s first tweet sold for US$2.9 million, a … Read more

The Crackdown on Undisclosed Advertising: ASA issues Warning to Influencers

19 March, 2021
The Adverting Standards Authority (“ASA”) has released its influencer monitoring report, summarising the results of the analysis the ASA conducted in September last year. The ASA conducted an analysis of over 24,000 Instagram stories, posts, and reels across 122 influencers to assess whether the rules in respect of influencer advertising were being followed. The ASA … Read more

Gambling and the COVID-19 Crisis

26 March, 2020
Gambling Commission Guidance The Gambling Commission has released new guidance acknowledging the increased challenges that businesses in the industry are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance explicitly reminds licensees that: they are expected to follow Public Health guidance; they should assess their ability for continued compliance with their relevant licence conditions … Read more

UK may be a nation of streamers but public service broadcasting remains essential!

08 November, 2019
Earlier this week, the UK’s House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee published its report titled “Public Service Broadcasting: As Vital As Ever“, following its consultation on the impact of Subscription Video-On-Demand (SVOD) services on the UK’s public service broadcasters (PSBs) such as the BBC, Channel 3, Channel 4 and Channel 5.   Amongst other aspects, … Read more

Challenges for the Consumer sector – Transformative Technology

14 August, 2019
HSF’s Consumer sector team (including Hayley Brady and James Balfour from our Digital TMT and Sourcing group, alongside members of our IP group) have recently produced a feature article in PLC Magazine on Challenges in the Consumer Sector. This is the first in a series of three articles examining the current issues facing the sector. … Read more

DCMS Consults on Implementing New Rules for VSPs

09 August, 2019
As outlined in our blog post on the implementation of the AVMS directive, legislative amendments to the AVMSD were published in the EU Official Journal and entered into force on 19 December 2018 following lengthy negotiations. The reform seeks to modernise the AVMSD to reflect market consumption and technological changes, largely arising from the merging … Read more