daily crunch: stimulus bill increases penalties for illegal streaming services
This daily update covers key developments including alterations to copyright legislation within the recent stimulus package, the incoming Biden administration’s approach to social media, and a review of startups that ceased operations this year. This is the Daily Crunch for December 22, 2020.
Key News: Stimulus Package Strengthens Penalties for Unauthorized Streaming
Further details have emerged regarding the technological implications of the newly approved stimulus bill, building on reports from yesterday. Notably, the legislation elevates illegal commercial streaming to a felony offense, potentially resulting in substantial fines or a prison sentence of up to ten years.
The bill’s wording appears to target large-scale, for-profit piracy operations, rather than individual users or content creators on platforms like Twitch. Senator Thom Tillis, a sponsor of the bill, affirmed this interpretation, stating that individual streamers should not be concerned about facing prosecution.
Concerning copyright matters, the bill also establishes a new Copyright Claims Board designed to address copyright infringement cases involving damages up to $30,000.
Major Technology Companies
Google, Cisco, and VMware have joined Microsoft in opposing NSO Group in the WhatsApp spyware lawsuit — A group of companies has submitted a supporting legal brief in the case brought by WhatsApp, alleging that NSO Group exploited a security flaw to compromise at least 1,400 devices.
Twitter anticipates resetting the POTUS account to zero followers when President-elect Biden assumes office — Twitter confirms it is actively collaborating with the Biden transition team on various aspects of the transfer of White House accounts.
Startups, Investment, and Venture Capital
A Retrospective on Startups Lost in 2020 — A review of both established and emerging startups that were unable to navigate the challenges of this past year.
Horizon Robotics, a Chinese competitor to Nvidia, is seeking to secure over $700 million in funding — Horizon Robotics, a five-year-old company valued at over $1 billion, specializes in the development of AI chips for robotic systems and self-driving vehicles.
ReturnSafe, based in Austin, secures $3.25 million for its employee health management solutions — The market for employee health tracking and management tools continues to expand.
Insights and Analysis from Extra Crunch
Edtech’s Path to Success in a Post-Pandemic World — An examination of whether the education technology sector can sustain its growth following a period of heightened activity in 2020.
Spotlight on a $100 Million ARR Company and Startups to Watch in 2021 — A discussion focusing on Nexthink.
Can AWS’s Dominance Be Challenged with a $50 Billion Revenue Target? — AWS has leveraged its early market entry to become the leading provider in the cloud computing space.
(Extra Crunch is our subscription service, dedicated to providing accessible information about the startup ecosystem. You can find more information and sign up here.)
Additional News
TechCrunch’s Gift Guide: Our Favorite Things of 2020 — A curated selection of podcasts, music, films, and other items that resonated with us throughout the year.
NASA Inaugurates New Launchpad at Kennedy Space Center for Commercial Use — LC-48 is designed to accommodate the growing demand for affordable and rapidly deployable launch systems.
The Daily Crunch is TechCrunch’s compilation of the most significant stories of the day. To receive this update in your inbox daily around 3pm Pacific Time, you can subscribe here.