iWorld
Gema – YouTube conflict resolved
MUMBAI: The long running legal tussle between YouTube and the German IP right body Gema that represents artists and publishers has finally resolved, according to international media.
Since 2009, several affected clips and videos, including those carrying conflicted background music, returned an error message on the video on demand platform, when users tried to access it.
Now that the payments will be made, these videos will be accessible to users although neither side has disclosed the terms.red banners that had prevented thousands of YouTube’s clips from playing in Germany have now been removed as a consequence.
And, as per Google’s Content ID system, clips containing Gema-protected tracks can now have adverts automatically added to them to recompense the songs’ creators.
YouTube’s head of international music partnerships Christophe Muller shared in a blog that it was a win for music artistes around the world, enabling them to reach new and existing fans in Germany… and for YouTube users in Germany, who will no longer see a blocking message on music content.
However, Gema officials remain skeptical on whether YouTube or the person uploading a clip was ultimately responsible for licensing the music it contained but termed the new agreement with the VOD giant as a”milestone”.
Gema chief executive Harald Heker told media that they remained true to their position that authors should also get a fair remuneration in the digital age, despite the resistance that they met.
(source: BBC news)
iWorld
Subedaar puts Indian original cinema on the global map with record-breaking Prime Video debut
MUMBAI: Prime Video has a runaway hit on its hands. Subedaar, the gritty action drama starring Anil Kapoor, has stormed to become the most-watched Indian original movie on the platform in its opening weekend, cracking the Top 10 across 31 countries and landing in 91 per cent of India’s pin codes within days of its March 5 premiere.
The film, a visceral, emotionally-charged story of a retired soldier, Subedaar Arjun Maurya, wrestling with civilian life amid crime and corruption, has struck a nerve. Directed by Suresh Triveni and co-starring Radhikka Madan, Mona Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, and Khushboo Sundar, the film is already being hailed as a showcase for what Indian original storytelling can achieve on the world stage.
“Subedaar’s success is a reflection of the growing scale and global resonance of Indian storytelling,” said Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India. “The film’s emotional narrative, its rooted portrayal of a soldier confronting his toughest battles beyond the battlefield, has struck a chord. Anil Kapoor delivers an acting masterclass, while Suresh Triveni’s solid direction and great performances from the ensemble cast have resulted in love and appreciation from customers across the world.”
Kapoor, 62, has been here before, but rarely at this altitude. Written by Triveni and Prajwal Chandrashekar, with dialogues by Triveni, Saurabh Dwivedi, and Chandrashekar, the film is a production by Opening Image Films in association with Anil Kapoor Film & Communication Network (AKFCN), produced by Vikram Malhotra, Kapoor, and Triveni.
Subedaar streams exclusively on Prime Video in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu across India, and in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
For Prime Video, the numbers tell the real story: one weekend, one film, a global footprint, and a very loud signal that Indian original cinema is no longer just travelling well. It’s arriving.
