If his inquiry into radio payola doesn’t produce new evidence of the practice, Commissioner Mike O’Rielly could push for the FCC to recommend anti-payola rules be “taken off the books,” he answered our question Wednesday during his news conference. The agency should eliminate unnecessary burdens on companies, he said. O’Rielly posted Wednesday on Twitter the final response to his queries to record labels for information on payola violations (see 2004220045). Like other labels, Universal Music Group didn’t provide evidence of payola, and said it was in compliance with federal rules. The label expressed interest in O’Rielly’s suggestion that the rules could be outdated. “In your letter, you correctly note that the lines among alternative technologies are becoming blurred,” said Universal. O’Rielly’s tweet included a call for evidence: “Again, if anyone has credible, tangible facts disputing this response, please let me know.”

LCDs “are essential to the U.S. economy,” and the COVID-19 pandemic “has only magnified their importance to the national economy, health, and public safety,” said Vizio and its suppliers Xianyang CaiHong Optoelectronics and TPV in public interest comments (login required) at the International Trade Commission in docket 337-3451. Sharp’s April 21 complaint seeks cease and desist and limited exclusion orders against displays from the three companies for allegedly infringing five Sharp LCD patents (see 2004270045). “The disruption in the LCD panels market that Sharp seeks will not be resolved within commercially reasonable time,” said the companies. “Certain major manufacturers of LCD panels are exiting the business by the end of 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted the global supply chain of LCD panels,” they said in reference to the Samsung Display decision to speed its exit from LCD production in South Korea and source future supply from Chinese panel makers (see 2004280016). “The COVID-19 pandemic has confirmed the central role of LCD panels,” said the companies. “Non-essential office workers are using LCD displays at home to conduct their daily business.” Students are participating in remote learning “through their video displays,” they said. “The essential nature of these products was apparent when several big-box electronic stores in the U.S. depleted, and were unable to refill, inventories of computer monitors.” Even TVs “are no longer used solely for entertainment,” they said.

Royalty judges are seeking comment through June 5 on a proposal to require claims to royalty fees collected under compulsory licenses be filed electronically, the Copyright Royalty Board said Wednesday.

Gray Television co-CEO Pat LaPlatney wants AT&T to “put aside efforts to secure an extension for complying” with requirements in the permanent renewal of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act "and instead work with us toward bringing local TV signals to the residents of all the impacted markets as quickly as possible.” AT&T told members of Congress’ Commerce and Judiciary committees last month it's working to address expected customer upheaval caused by STELA ahead of a June 1 effective date (see 2004200065). The law requires satellite providers using the distant-signal license to serve all 210 designated market areas (see 1912190068). In a letter to AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson dated Monday, LaPlantey noted DirecTV has received significant criticism for not offering local signals in 12 designated market areas (see 1905310051), including seven where Gray has local stations. "The lack of access to local stations [is] an unfortunate situation in normal times" but "intolerable" during the pandemic, he said: Existing retransmission consent agreements would let DirecTV carry Gray stations in those seven markets without any further negotiations. LaPlatney said Gray would host that local receive equipment at its station buildings free. AT&T is "currently in discussions with each of the major broadcast networks to obtain access to their national programming for many of these impacted customers," a spokesperson emailed. "Local stations have exclusive control over who can offer their content within their communities. Our goal is to continue providing network content to as many homes as possible and impacted customers are eligible for a credit." Gray also emailed to the media letters sent in recent weeks to Stephenson from Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine; Angus King, I-Maine; Deb Fischer, R-Neb.; and Ben Sasse, R-Neb., and Reps. Jared Golden, D-Maine, and Adrian Smith, R-Neb., on local stations.

The Copyright Office extended through July 10 COVID-19-related timing provision adjustments (see 2004010049). The adjustments were originally to expire May 12. It's for “certain registration claims, notices of termination, and section 115 notices of intention and statements of account,” the CO said Friday.

State privacy and tax laws targeting online advertisements are especially ill-timed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Free State Foundation's Andrew Long wrote Thursday. He cited the California Consumer Privacy Act, Maine’s ISP privacy law and proposed Maryland and New York digital tax laws (see 2003170057).

As more than 17% of worldwide video streaming users stream content illegally, the anti-privacy solutions market is expected to reach $172 million this year and $229 million by 2024, ABI Research said Wednesday. It said 7.5 million North American households are reportedly accessing pirated content, costing providers more than $4 billion yearly, and pandemic shelter-in-place orders are driving piracy activity higher.

The International Trade Commission issued another limited exclusion order banning import of Comcast X1 set-top boxes that infringe patents held by Rovi, says Wednesday’s Federal Register. The ban, which concludes an investigation that began in 2018, is the second issued against Comcast at Rovi's request, after Customs and Border Protection in 2018 ruled Comcast's redesign of the X1 set-tops got around a limited exclusion order. A third investigation requested by Rovi on the cable operator's X1 boxes is ongoing. The ITC also issued cease and desist orders against Comcast but set no bond during the 60-day period of presidential review on whether to leave the exclusion order in place. Comcast didn’t comment Tuesday.

Two computer science professors with backgrounds in the “technical analysis of audio players,” controllers and components top the list of seven expert witnesses Sonos plans to call in the International Trade Commission’s Tariff Act Section 337 investigation into allegations that Google devices infringe five Sonos multiroom audio patents. Kevin Almeroth, a professor at the University of California-Santa Barbara, represented Jawbone in its ITC patent fight against Fitbit over fitness trackers (see 1608300035), said documents (login required) filed Friday in docket 337-TA-1191. University of Minnesota professor Jon Weissman represented Facebook against allegations it stole BlackBerry mobile-computing applications, said the filings. The other experts are independent consultants with backgrounds in engineering, patent monetization and statistical analyses, they said. One consultant, Marc Levitt, spent seven years in the 1990s as senior hardware engineer at Sun Microsystems. Another, Cole Hershkowitz, leads a team building a mobile app for Blue Cross of Idaho. The Sonos ITC complaint seeks cease and desist and limited exclusion orders against Google smart speakers and other devices (see 2002060070).

The Copyright Office launched a pilot program Monday for its electronic recordation system, which will replace the current paper-based system. The pilot program is the first installation of the CO’s enterprise copyright system.