With copyright liability for cloud computing services hovering on the EU  horizon, what can we we learn from the case of ABC Inc v Aereo in the United States Supreme Court?

** A peer-reviewed paper which updates this article -  The Aereo dilemma and copyright in the cloud' - has now been published by Internet Policy Review* *

 A judgement handed down in the US Supreme Court today has underpinned the claim of a group of broadcast companies that royalties were due from a cloud-based service relaying copyrighted content. The ruling also raises a looming threat of new liabilities for the nascent cloud computing industry.

The case of ABC Inc et al vs Aereo Inc, concerned whether or not a cloud service transmitting

Read more: Copyright liabilities loom for cloud providers in wake of Aereo judgement

Eight years after the EU first began working on music online, the European Parliament this morning  adopted a new directive to regulate music collecting societies. MEPs came to a  political agreement that the transparency and administration of collecting societies should be regulated in order to improve the flow of money to artists. They also recognised that  cross-border licencing had to be addressed in order to enable pan-European online music services.

Read more: Europarl comes together on music licencing

Loathe her or love her,  Margaret Thatcher’s telecoms policies have strongly influenced the structure of  European Union policy.  But how far did they  pave the way for Internet communications?

 As we learn of the death of Baroness Thatcher yesterday, it is worth reflecting on the ways in which her policies have shaped the telecoms industry that we have today.  She was politician who prompted very mixed and divided reactions, and her policies were not always welcomed or liked. And it is so with her  telecoms policies.

Read more: Lest we forget - Margaret Thatcher’s telecoms legacy