Russian ministry presents plans for taking over collective licensing to Deputy PM
The Russian government is seemingly continuing to develop its proposal that it take over collective licensing in the country, with the Economic Development Ministry sending two possible options for doing so to First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov.

As previously reported, the latest moves by Russian ministers to take over collective licensing have come in the wake of the scandal that erupted at the country's song rights collecting society RAO, where General Director Sergei Fedotov is in prison fighting off allegations of fraud. Although the society's Author's Council is backing Fedotov, some RAO members have been attempting to rewrite the organisation's constitution and put new management in place.

According to Russian business newspaper Vedomosti, it's the country's Economic Development Ministry that is most proactively pushing for the government to take over collective licensing, and it has now shared the specifics of how that might be done with Shuvalov, who is leading a review of the country's collective licensing system.

Although two possible options have been proposed, both seem to cut the existing societies - so the aforementioned RAO, the recording rights focused VOIS and private copy levy collector RSP - out of the equation. The main differences between the two proposals seem to be quite how close to the government a new state-established super collecting society would be, and whether that organisation would distribute monies to writers and rights owners directly or via other organisations.

As also previously reported, most Russian music industry execs - including those who have been critical of the current collecting societies - are against the idea of the government taking over collective licensing, while also questioning whether such a thing is even possible under a World Trade Organisation intellectual property treaty of which Russia is a signatory.

The bosses of the local divisions of Sony, Universal and Warner all joined a stack of other local music industry chiefs in signing a letter to the Russian government urging them to drop their plans to take over collective licensing. But that doesn't seem to have stopped the Economic Development Ministry from developing its proposals.

Meanwhile last month the RAO published its financials for 2015, and seemed keen to stress the scale of its operation in Russia in terms of members and licensees, as well as its global connections with other collecting societies around the world.

It also bigged up its recent efforts to improve royalty distribution, partly through the introduction of something called the Common Information System which, it says, has been tested and approved by PRS and the global body for song right collecting societies, CISAC.

Basically, the message seemed to be, "we're already tackling the issues, and look at the scale of our operation, are you really capable of taking that on?"

For now, the Economic Development Ministry seems to think that it is. It remains to be seen how Shuvalov responds to its proposals.

Extradition proceedings underway in Kickass case
In case you're worrying that the MegaUpload extradition case might soon reach a conclusion and we won't have a long-drawn-out tedious copyright extradition case to cover any more, worry not.

Firstly it won't, whichever side loses the current appeal hearing in the MegaUpload extradition case will almost certainly appeal the appeal. And second, look, we have a whole new long-drawn-out tedious copyright extradition case to cover. The US has formally begun its extradition proceedings against the alleged owner of KickassTorrents, Artem Vaulin.

As previously reported, Vaulin was arrested in Poland in July at the request of the US government and he has been in jail ever since. Meanwhile the popular Kickass file-sharing site went offline at the same time.

According to Torrentfreak, American officials formally requested Vaulin's extradition two weeks ago, while Polish authorities have extended the arrest of the Kickass man, which means he can remain incarcerated until 19 Nov, with an initial hearing to consider the extradition application sometime later this month.

Vaulin, who is from Ukraine, now has both Polish and US legal representation, though only the former is currently allowed to actively work on the case. Torrentfreak got its update from Val Gurvits, who is part of Vaulin's US defence team but who is based in Poland.

There are parallels between the MegaUpload and Kickass extradition cases - even though they were very different services - and those parallels go beyond the fact that one lawyer, Ira Rothken, is working on both.

A key argument presented by the defence in both cases is that their clients are not accused of crimes covered by New Zealand or Poland's extradition treaties with the US; though in the Kickass case there is the added element of the defence questioning whether Vaulin can even be accused of criminal copyright infringement, let alone fraud.

Gurvits told Torrentfreak: "The primary basis for challenging extradition is that the acts of which Artem is accused do not constitute a crime in Poland where he is detained, nor in the Ukraine where he lives and works. In fact, in my opinion operating an index search engine cannot constitute a crime in the United States because secondary infringement is not criminalised under US law. If KickassTorrents is a criminal operation, then Google should start worrying".

Of course, piracy sites like Kickass and The Pirate Bay - which simply link to copyright infringing material rather than hosting it - have long compared themselves to mainstream search engines like Google, with an "if we're infringing so are they" aside.

Though generally in civil cases courts have been happy to distinguish between a general search engine, which may inadvertently link to infringing material, and a search site specifically set up to help users locate unlicensed music and movies. There is less precedent here in criminal cases, though such arguments didn't help the founders of The Pirate Bay in their criminal case in Sweden.

But either way, there is potentially enough ambiguity here to slow down any extradition proceedings. Though whether Vaulin will still be in Poland five years after his website was shut down - in the way MegaUpload founder Kim Dotcom is set to still be in New Zealand on the fifth anniversary of the shutdown of his site - remains to be seen.

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Straight Outta Compton defamation lawsuit could continue if 'successor-in-interest' can be found
The lawyer who was representing the recently deceased former NWA manager Jerry Heller in his defamation lawsuit against the makers of the 'Straight Outta Compton' movie has requested that the case be put on hold while he seeks a 'successor-in-interest' to pursue the action.

As previously reported, Heller, who died last month aged 75, sued pretty much everyone involved in the NWA biopic late last year, claiming his portrayal in the film constituted defamation.

Much of the lawsuit was then dismissed in July, though one element was allowed to proceed, with the judge overseeing the case noting that "the film arguably portrays plaintiff as an exploitative record label manager who attempted to take advantage of an unsophisticated artist by discouraging him from retaining an attorney during contract negotiations".

Nothing in the record suggested that was true, and the judge reckoned there was a sufficient case to argue that that portrayal of Heller could constitute defamation.

Following Heller's death last month, it wasn't clear how the defamation case would now proceed. He had been due to provide a deposition in August, but that was postponed over a dispute regarding the defence's legal representation, who Heller's team argued had a conflict of interest.

This week, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Heller's lawyer Michael Shapiro submitted papers with the court requesting a stay of the lawsuit until 20 Oct to give him time to seek a so called 'successor-in-interest' to take on the role of plaintiff in the case. It remains to be seen who might take on that role on behalf of the now deceased former NWA manager.

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Justin Bieber ordered to give deposition in pap attack case
In amongst announcing new Australian tour dates and "showing off his physique as he strips off while enjoying aquatic fun with pals during a Swedish holiday" (go on, guess which paper wrote that headline), Justin Bieber might need to make some time in his busy schedule for some legal formalities in relation to an ongoing pap-attack lawsuit.

A judge in Florida has ordered the Biebster to sit down and give a deposition within the next 30 days or face the prospect of being arrested and brought to court. The judge wants the singer to answer questions under oath about a run in he had with paparazzo Manuel Muñoz in Miami two years ago. The snapper accuses one of Bieber's bodyguards of beating him up and taking his camera's memory card.

The lawyer repping Muñoz says that Bieber has ignored or refused to consider previous requests for a deposition. Requesting the judge order Bieber to comply, attorney Mark DiCowden said the singer shouldn't be entitled to special treatment just because he's a celebrity. Though, I suppose, he wouldn't have enjoyed the special treatment of being snapped by a pap had it not been for that celebrity status.

I'm sure Bieber will get to it just as soon as he's stopped having "a wonderful time as he strips down to his turquoise swim shorts to lark around in the water". I trust the Daily Mail's pap in Sweden managed to snap the larks without incident.

Sony renews deal with China's Tencent Music
Sony Music has renewed its deal with Tencent Music in China, a partnership originally struck in 2014. The "strategic cooperation arrangement" - always my favourite kind of arrangements - will see Tencent continue to utilise, distribute and promote Sony's catalogue online in mainland China. And why not, I say. See, you can't think of a reason why.

Certainly the President of Sony Music in Asia, Denis Handlin, looks excited about his company's latest deal with Tencent. "We are excited to continue our relationship and cooperation between Sony Music and one of our most valued business partners, Tencent Music. Tencent Music's promotion of the legal use of digital music has made a very positive and lasting change to the market for music labels and music fans. The difference we have made together in the development of artists and in fan engagement through our strategic partnership is most significant. We look forward to taking the Chinese music market to the next level, becoming one of the top markets in the world".

And as for the boss of Tencent Music, Dowson Tong, he has the look of a man full of delight. "I am delighted that the mutually beneficial cooperation between Sony Music and Tencent Music has been extended. Our partnership will continue to flourish as Tencent Music's influence on the China market grows and as we bring even more great content from Sony Music's global catalogue of heavyweight artists to China, enhancing Sony Music's business and thrilling music lovers in the mainland".

Judge approves latest plans to take SFX out of bankruptcy
A judge last week reportedly approved the latest plans to bring SFX out of bankruptcy, with a court date now set for 9 Nov, seemingly to formally confirm the proposals.

The publicly listed dance music focused firm applied for bankruptcy protection back in February of course, and has been working ever since on a deal with its creditors that will enable the business to come out bankruptcy as a private company with minimal debts. Some assets have been sold along the way, though the company has kept hold of digital music platform Beatport as well as its core festivals business.

The plan approved by judge Mary Walrath outlines how different debtors will be treated, and how equity in the all-new SFX will be divided between key lenders. The biggest change in the most recent version of the plan related to how unsecured creditors will be treated.

According to Amplify, as well as signing off on the plan, Walrath also rejected a request by shareholders in the pre-bankruptcy SFX to participate in the restructuring talks, which is basically the end of the road for those former investors seeking some involvement in the future of the business.

The approved plan also sets out which former SFX execs could be sued over their leadership of the company, with founder and former CEO Robert FX Sillerman the most likely defendant in any such case.

And the latest plan notes that: "Possible causes of action against Mr Sillerman include claims for breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation and fraud. In addition, the debtors claims include claims against and arising from agreements with entities affiliated with Mr Sillerman, including, for breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation, and fraud".

MelodyVR teams up with Telefónica in Germany
Virtual reality music platform MelodyVR has announced a partnership with tel co Telefónica in Germany.

As part of the deal, a 'lite' version of the company's app will be showcased in over 600 O2 stores in Germany, with another 42 shops setting aside an area to allow folk to try out the full experience. As previously reported, MelodyVR's app, which is due to launch later this year, features live performances and other content from Skepta, The Who and the London Symphony Orchestra, among others.

"We're hugely excited to see the MelodyVR platform made available across O2 stores in Germany", says MelodyVR founder Anthony Matchett. "Prior to the wider launch of our platform, we'll be previewing a bespoke 'lite' version of the MelodyVR app, containing a cut down selection of content, that will showcase the potential of VR and MelodyVR to thousands of O2 customers over the coming months, as well as throughout the 2016/17 festive period".

But if you don't fancy a trip to Germany just to check out some virtual reality flim flam, back in the UK Sky is getting in on the act, launching a new Sky VR app for Android, iOS and Oculus Rift. You can use it to watch 360° videos, which isn't the most exciting use of VR technology, and there's no music on it as far as I can see. If you like sport though, there are some sport clips. Oh, and there's a Star Wars thing.

All hail the future of looking at stuff.

J Dilla's early life turned into children's book
The early life of J Dilla has been turned into a children's book, written by his mother Maureen Yancey-Smith and illustrated by Tokio Aoyama.

'The Life Story Of James Dewitt Yancey' tells the story of the late Slum Village producer's childhood when he was "was just an ordinary boy with an extraordinary talent".

Discussing recording the audiobook version on Hot97 recently, Yancey-Smith Senior said: "I had a wonderful time in the studio doing this ... Even though I actually lived it, it was just wonderful to be able to hear it. It kinda shined a light on my life, because you don't think about what you do every day".

The book is due for release on 22 Nov, and is available to pre-order now.

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Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to soundtrack Boston Marathon bombing movie
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have signed up for their next film soundtrack project. 'Patriots Day', a film about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, is due to premiere in December.

"I couldn't be more honoured than to be working with these two straight up genius artists", said director Peter Berg on Instagram. "Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Bringing their deep soul and fury to 'Patriots Day'".

The pair have previously worked on the scores for David Fincher films 'Gone Girl', 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' and 'The Social Network', winning an Oscar for the latter. They also recently confirmed that they will soundtrack Leonardo DiCaprio's new climate change documentary, 'Before The Flood'.

Chance The Rapper stars in Kit Kat advert
Change The Rapper is appearing in and has written a jingle for an advert for Kit Kat chocolate bars. Ah well.

A tweet from the official Kit Kat Twitter account confirmed the news yesterday, showing a picture of the rapper dressed as a bear in the Halloween-themed ad, which will air for the first time later today.

The image also shows him holding a Kit Kat with his face printed on it, next to which are the words "Chance The Wrapper". Because 'wrapper' sounds like 'rapper'. It's a pun. Of sorts. Because the rapper is on the wrapper. Do you get it? Do you? Do you?

Stay tuned for more hilarity in the full advert. Can't wait.