PRS for Music, the representative body of UK musicians, is to sue online music streaming service SoundCloud after five years of negotiations has failed. PRS protects the rights and royalties of over 111,000 musicians in the UK. It stated in a letter to its members last week that it has “no alternative” but to commence legal … Continue reading
Revenge porn is back in the news after reports that the first woman to be convicted of the offence, Paige Mitchell, has been spared a jail term. Stigma following the publication of intimate images online can cause harm and distress way beyond some initial embarrassment, however. The growing number of explicit images being shared online, specifically without the … Continue reading
The recent shooting of Cecil the Lion by US dentist Walter Palmer has seen worldwide outcry. As well as kick-starting a debate about the rights and wrongs of big game hunting it has brought into sharp focus the reputational damage that can be inflicted on those involved in media storms. How well do you know … Continue reading
Emojis, the ever-expanding range of pictorial icons used to supplement text-messages and social media, are entering workplace vocabulary. Is it time for businesses to embrace ‘text speak’ or should the office be emoji exempt? The news that 76% of U.S. workers use little yellow faces in their day-to-day work-related emails is at odds with the … Continue reading
It is no secret that social media offers a world of opportunity, from simple communications to sophisticated marketing. Sometimes, however, those opportunities are best left undiscovered, as one law firm found out all too well. Most of us will look at the message above, perhaps screwing our faces slightly or gently shaking our heads. On … Continue reading
It has come to light that the Chartered Institute of Public Relations has produced bespoke guidance for MPs on their use of social media. The 5,500 word guide, commissioned by Commons Speaker John Bercow, is said to include such pearls of wisdom as ‘don’t tweet whilst drunk’ and encourages MPs not to be ‘boring’. MPs … Continue reading
Over the weekend, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) Twitter account was criticised for making light of a serious blaze which caused damage to a number of properties in the Shoreditch area of the capital. LFB have been great users of social media, using it as a valuable tool for communicating with the public and providing … Continue reading
In the wake of the Sony hack and other abuses of confidential information, cyber security is an issue that any business can ill afford to ignore. What’s more, there is free help available from the Government for small businesses under a revised voucher scheme. I recently attended a conference on cyber security, organised by the … Continue reading
Taylor Swift published open letter to Apple on Tumblr this week (To Apple, Love Taylor), criticising its treatment of independent artists. It has been hailed as a turning point not only for the might of Apple, but also for the pop star and the power of social media. The letter came on the back of … Continue reading
Entrepreneurs, especially in the tech sector, seem to be younger than ever. But it takes more than just a bright idea to stand out in a busy marketplace and to make any business a success, even in the age of crowd-funding and disruptive media. Working out of his Silicon Valley office, 23 year old London-born … Continue reading
Kevin Poulter 