Expert insights. Personalized for you.
Eriq Gardner The Guild tells the judge about the huge stakes and why the case shouldn't get bogged down in legal maneuvers from the well-heeled music industry. read more. THR, Esq. Music Music Business MORE
The Directors Guild closed their deal over these issues last month but many striking writers (and SAG members) criticized that deal for not going far enough on streaming. However, Guild leaders issued the following cautionary statement on Sunday morning: To Our Fellow Members, While fully mindful of the continuing media blackout, we write you to address the rumors and reports that undoubtedly you have been hearing. MORE
The Writers Guild of America strike is now entering its third month. In addition, the Directors Guild reportedly has achieved some progress in its "pre-negotiations" with the AMPTP. Production on film and television projects have ground to a halt. Yet, as my JMBM colleague, E. Barry Haldeman, suggests in his Malibu Times op-ed piece, the end may be in sight. MORE
SAG-AFTRA argues in court that ages on IMDb are an "open invitation for casting directors to engage in illegally discriminatory conduct." read more. THR, Esq. Business Movies Television Culture Tech Business THR Online MORE
YouTube stars have started a labour guild to represent low paid video producers for sites like YouTube. via @andreworlowski: YouTube sharecroppers start Internet Creators Guild, the world’s most useless trade union — Artist Rights WatchWorkers of YouTube, Unite! But Be Awesomely Unroiled Up! But it promises to be really, really polite and it won’t be asking Google for more money. MORE
Lowell Peterson also confirms that there is no date set for negotiations. See The Hollywood Reporter exclusive. _. Watch for my new book “Hollywood on Strike!,” due out next month. Subscribe to my blog ( jhandel.com ) for more about entertainment law and digital media law. Check out my residuals chart there too. Go to the blog itself to subscribe via RSS or email. Or, follow me on Twitter , friend me on Facebook , or subscribe to my Forbes.com or Huffington Post articles. MORE
Barry Haldeman, one of my colleagues in the JMBM Entertainment Group, wrote an interesting op-ed piece for the Malibu Times on the WGA strike. You can read his piece here. As Barry writes, the principal issue preventing a deal with the writers seems to be how to handle, and divide revenues from, new media such as cell phones and the internet. Not surprisingly, each side is wary of giving much ground because of the potential ramifications as these new media become more popular. MORE
24 on the wide-ranging outline of negotiating priorities, but the guild has not yet announced the results of the vote. Balloting closed Jan. Details: The Hollywood Reporter. _. Watch for my new book “Hollywood on Strike!,” due out this month. Subscribe to my blog ( jhandel.com ) for more about entertainment law and digital media law. Check out my residuals chart there too. Go to the blog itself to subscribe via RSS or email. MORE
Strangely overlooked in the hoorah about the mechanical licensing collective is the CASE Act that would finally establish a small claims court for copyright infringement. If Big Tech is going to give themselves another safe harbor in MMA for the mechanical licenses they failed miserably to obtain, the least that the Congress can do is pass the CASE Act to establish some remedy for copyright infringement that is available to all copyright owners. MORE
District Court Judge Denny Chin has dismissed the Authors Guild lawsuit against Google, ruling that the search engine company''s practice of displaying parts of books as part of its Google Books Project does not violate the plaintiffs'' copyright MORE
From the Authors Guild website: The Authors Guild, the Australian Society of Authors, the Union Des Écrivaines et des Écrivains Québécois (UNEQ), and eight individual authors have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in federal court against HathiTrust, the University of MORE
A lawsuit asserts that refusal to pay for naturopathic care violates discrimination provisions of the controversial law. read more. THR, Esq. The Business Television Business THR Online Labor MORE
The Writers Guild went on strike in 2007. Jonathan Handel, TroyGould & the Hollywood Reporter, has published Hollywood on Strike! Excerpts), Los Angeles, Hollywood Analytics (2011). Here is the abstract. The big issue: fees for programs released on new media MORE
A lawsuit over a film score produced overseas has suddenly become an important labor case in Hollywood. read more. THR, Esq. The Business Movies Business THR Online Labor MORE
As the witching hour of the Google Books Settlement draws nigh, a telling slip from the Authors Guild general counsel Allen Adler, from whose intellectual loins sprang this freak (at least in part): "As for having to wait until October to see whether the settlement is approved, there's only one thing that bothers Adler: 'The downside is that it gives people who are opposed to this more time to rabble-rouse.'" MORE
The parties are also said to be looking at how to avoid future lawsuits. read more. THR, Esq. The Business Movies Music Business THR Online Labor MORE
The Screen Actors Guild, the Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America are rallying behind efforts by the heirs of Jack Kirby to terminate rights to Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four and the Avengers. read more. The Business Music Movies THR Online THR, Esq. Marvel Entertainment The Amazing Spider-Man Fantastic Four Labor Heat Vision Business MORE
Jonathan Handel The lawsuit filed Friday also alleges a practice of discrimination, but may face a statute of limitations challenge. The DGA has 30 days to file a response. read more. THR, Esq. The Business Business Labor MORE
In an extraordinary interview with The Wrap , SAG President Alan Rosenberg said that “actors are frightened little children,” and referred to his opponents—a majority of the SAG board—as “liars and manipulators.” Rosenberg also said of himself that “my life sucks,” and then, accompanying himself on guitar, actually sung a plaintive folk song of his own devising, whose lyrics included such lines as “Al and Doug and Doug Allen?, they stand up way too hard. I will bury them right in my own backyard.” MORE
With nods to the many actors who played "Batman" and the actress who plays many roles on "Orphan Black," the guild weighs in on a controversial case before a federal appeals court read more. The Business Music Movies THR Online THR, Esq. Television Labor Tech Business MORE
A judge figures out the meaning of "producer" and "employer" in Hollywood. read more. THR, Esq. The Business Movies Music Business THR Online Paramount Pictures AFM Labor MORE
Will residuals be paid? It’s complicated. read more. THR, Esq. The Business Home Movies Business THR Online DGA Relativity Media SAG-AFTRA WGA Labor MORE
Now the Directors Guild of America is about to issue a statement predicting a. By Matthew Belloni Reaction is coming in from the content community to yesterday's ruling in favor of Google in Viacom's $1 billion copyright litigation over YouTube. MORE
AFM says the score for "Interstellar" was out of its world — but not in a good way. read more. THR, Esq. The Business Movies Music Business THR Online Labor MORE
One large P&A lender argues a September auction is designed to enrich some of the other financial firms. read more. THR, Esq. The Business Movies Business THR Online MORE
Studio lawyers take note: In the first high-profile decision applying Washington state's new anti-SLAPP law, a federal judge has tossed invasion of privacy and misappropriation of likeness claims against filmmaker Michael Moore over his film "Sicko." The judge ruled that. MORE
The guilds claim TWC has a "long history" of making residuals calculations complicated. read more. THR, Esq. Business Business THR Online The Weinstein Company MORE
Business representative Steve Hulett and most incumbents re-elected. Details in my Hollywood Reporter piece. -. Watch for my new book “Hollywood on Strike!,” due out next month. Subscribe to my blog ( jhandel.com ) for more about entertainment law and digital media law. Check out my residuals chart there too. Go to the blog itself to subscribe via RSS or email. Or, follow me on Twitter , friend me on Facebook , or subscribe to my Forbes.com or Huffington Post articles. MORE
Will entertainment workers of the world unite? Probably not any time soon. They just tried, and it blew up in their faces. But why? The analysis is in my THR piece. -. Watch for my new book “Hollywood on Strike!,” due out next month. Subscribe to my blog ( jhandel.com ) for more about entertainment law and digital media law. Check out my residuals chart there too. Go to the blog itself to subscribe via RSS or email. MORE
The lawsuit also claims a contract breach in the way Tony Bennett's music was used on PBS and an Earth, Wind & Fire song for the the 2012 film "The Intouchables." read more. THR, Esq. Music Music Business THR Online Labor MORE
There isn't much suspense building for this year's Oscar show on February 22--final ballots are due Tuesday, February 17--as the various guilds dole out their prizes. I always enjoy the Art Directors Guild awards, a black-tie affair at the Beverly Hilton, partly because I get a kick out of the anachronistic Johnny Crawford orchestra; the bandleader sings and swings just like Fred Astaire, top hat and all. MORE
Lantern Capital made a successful $310 million bid for Weinstein Co. assets, but where will the proceeds go? read more. THR, Esq. Business Movies Business THR Online MORE
Jonathan Handel Citing the guild agreement’s “separated rights” provisions, the union is seeking to enjoin the new play and obtain damages on behalf of the screenwriter of the 2000 movie that began the franchise. read more. THR, Esq. The Business Movies Business Labor THR exclusive MORE
Producers of the 2010 Sylvester Stallone film claim that one of the credited writers withheld e-mails in a secret fight over authorship. read more. Movies THR Online THR, Esq. Labor Business MORE
More on this later, but Directors Guild President Taylor Hackford gave a statement to the Hollywood Reporter on the application of the Digital Monopsonist Cauterization Act to the rights of creators from around the world:“We are extremely concerned about the implications of the judge’s decision, which permits those who engage in or enable Internet theft to build sites using illegal content. Tags: directors guild of america taylor hackford MORE
The following is an excerpt from an interview with Rick Carnes, President of the Songwriter's Guild of America. The full length interview runs in Music Tech Policy Monthly.MTP: In the news this week, Jim Griffin is quoted as acknowledging he underestimated the complexity of his Choruss plan which he largely blames on there being an inconveniently large number of songwriters. To me, this is MORE
Foreign streaming and non-permanent downloads are the subject of the guild's latest big legal move. read more. THR, Esq. The Business Movies Music THR Online Sony Music The Walt Disney Company Universal Music Group Warner Music Group MORE
Red Granite is also being audited over concern for pension and health contributions to those in the entertainment industry. read more. THR, Esq. Movies Movies Business THR Online Labor MORE
I'll be teaching a course on entertainment unions and guilds starting in January. He begins teaching a semester-long class on entertainment unions and guilds in January 2010 and will continue to represent clients at TroyGould. Handel’s course focuses on legal analysis along with discussions of union history, policy and politics in order to illuminate the abstract language of guild contracts. MORE
The Writers Guild of America East has scheduled a hearing to consider charges that Joan Rivers worked on the "Fashion Police" as a writer and showrunner while the show''s writers have been on strike. If found in violation of WGA MORE
Alex Ben Block The groups aim to recover up to $120 million, through recovery of assets, as well as lawsuits against any parties who are found to have acted fraudulently. read more. THR, Esq. THR, Esq. The Business Movies Business David Bergstein Labor MORE
The Directors Guild closed their deal over these issues last month but many striking writers (and SAG members) criticized that deal for not going far enough on streaming. However, Guild leaders issued the following cautionary statement on Sunday morning: To Our Fellow Members, While fully mindful of the continuing media blackout, we write you to address the rumors and reports that undoubtedly you have been hearing. MORE
The Directors Guild closed their deal over these issues last month but many striking writers (and SAG members) criticized that deal for not going far enough on streaming. However, Guild leaders issued the following cautionary statement on Sunday morning: To Our Fellow Members, While fully mindful of the continuing media blackout, we write you to address the rumors and reports that undoubtedly you have been hearing. MORE
Guild Related Topics THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
APRIL 16, 2018
The guilds claim TWC has a "long history" of making residuals calculations complicated. read more. THR, Esq. Business Business THR Online The Weinstein Company
DealFatigue
FEBRUARY 3, 2008
The Directors Guild closed their deal over these issues last month but many striking writers (and SAG members) criticized that deal for not going far enough on streaming. However, Guild leaders issued the following cautionary statement on Sunday morning: To Our Fellow Members, While fully mindful of the continuing media blackout, we write you to address the rumors and reports that undoubtedly you have been hearing.
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THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
AUGUST 10, 2015
Foreign streaming and non-permanent downloads are the subject of the guild's latest big legal move. read more. THR, Esq. The Business Movies Music THR Online Sony Music The Walt Disney Company Universal Music Group Warner Music Group
DealFatigue
FEBRUARY 3, 2008
The Directors Guild closed their deal over these issues last month but many striking writers (and SAG members) criticized that deal for not going far enough on streaming. However, Guild leaders issued the following cautionary statement on Sunday morning: To Our Fellow Members, While fully mindful of the continuing media blackout, we write you to address the rumors and reports that undoubtedly you have been hearing.
DealFatigue
FEBRUARY 3, 2008
The Directors Guild closed their deal over these issues last month but many striking writers (and SAG members) criticized that deal for not going far enough on streaming. However, Guild leaders issued the following cautionary statement on Sunday morning: To Our Fellow Members, While fully mindful of the continuing media blackout, we write you to address the rumors and reports that undoubtedly you have been hearing.
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
JUNE 23, 2014
The Screen Actors Guild, the Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America are rallying behind efforts by the heirs of Jack Kirby to terminate rights to Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four and the Avengers. read more. The Business Music Movies THR Online THR, Esq. Marvel Entertainment The Amazing Spider-Man Fantastic Four Labor Heat Vision Business
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
JANUARY 3, 2017
A lawsuit asserts that refusal to pay for naturopathic care violates discrimination provisions of the controversial law. read more. THR, Esq. The Business Television Business THR Online Labor
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
JUNE 4, 2018
Lantern Capital made a successful $310 million bid for Weinstein Co. assets, but where will the proceeds go? read more. THR, Esq. Business Movies Business THR Online
Media Law Prof Blog
NOVEMBER 18, 2013
District Court Judge Denny Chin has dismissed the Authors Guild lawsuit against Google, ruling that the search engine company''s practice of displaying parts of books as part of its Google Books Project does not violate the plaintiffs'' copyright
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
AUGUST 1, 2015
Will residuals be paid? It’s complicated. read more. THR, Esq. The Business Home Movies Business THR Online DGA Relativity Media SAG-AFTRA WGA Labor
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
JUNE 16, 2016
A judge figures out the meaning of "producer" and "employer" in Hollywood. read more. THR, Esq. The Business Movies Music Business THR Online Paramount Pictures AFM Labor
Digital Media Law
FEBRUARY 1, 2011
24 on the wide-ranging outline of negotiating priorities, but the guild has not yet announced the results of the vote. Balloting closed Jan. Details: The Hollywood Reporter. _. Watch for my new book “Hollywood on Strike!,” due out this month. Subscribe to my blog ( jhandel.com ) for more about entertainment law and digital media law. Check out my residuals chart there too. Go to the blog itself to subscribe via RSS or email.
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
AUGUST 25, 2017
SAG-AFTRA argues in court that ages on IMDb are an "open invitation for casting directors to engage in illegally discriminatory conduct." read more. THR, Esq. Business Movies Television Culture Tech Business THR Online
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
JUNE 24, 2010
Now the Directors Guild of America is about to issue a statement predicting a. By Matthew Belloni Reaction is coming in from the content community to yesterday's ruling in favor of Google in Viacom's $1 billion copyright litigation over YouTube.
Digital Media Law
JANUARY 19, 2011
Lowell Peterson also confirms that there is no date set for negotiations. See The Hollywood Reporter exclusive. _. Watch for my new book “Hollywood on Strike!,” due out next month. Subscribe to my blog ( jhandel.com ) for more about entertainment law and digital media law. Check out my residuals chart there too. Go to the blog itself to subscribe via RSS or email. Or, follow me on Twitter , friend me on Facebook , or subscribe to my Forbes.com or Huffington Post articles.
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
DECEMBER 8, 2014
With nods to the many actors who played "Batman" and the actress who plays many roles on "Orphan Black," the guild weighs in on a controversial case before a federal appeals court read more. The Business Music Movies THR Online THR, Esq. Television Labor Tech Business
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
OCTOBER 7, 2016
Red Granite is also being audited over concern for pension and health contributions to those in the entertainment industry. read more. THR, Esq. Movies Movies Business THR Online Labor
Music Technology Policy
JULY 1, 2010
More on this later, but Directors Guild President Taylor Hackford gave a statement to the Hollywood Reporter on the application of the Digital Monopsonist Cauterization Act to the rights of creators from around the world:“We are extremely concerned about the implications of the judge’s decision, which permits those who engage in or enable Internet theft to build sites using illegal content. Tags: directors guild of america taylor hackford
Digital Media Law
NOVEMBER 9, 2010
Will entertainment workers of the world unite? Probably not any time soon. They just tried, and it blew up in their faces. But why? The analysis is in my THR piece. -. Watch for my new book “Hollywood on Strike!,” due out next month. Subscribe to my blog ( jhandel.com ) for more about entertainment law and digital media law. Check out my residuals chart there too. Go to the blog itself to subscribe via RSS or email.
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
JULY 8, 2015
The lawsuit also claims a contract breach in the way Tony Bennett's music was used on PBS and an Earth, Wind & Fire song for the the 2012 film "The Intouchables." read more. THR, Esq. Music Music Business THR Online Labor
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
AUGUST 15, 2011
Jonathan Handel Citing the guild agreement’s “separated rights” provisions, the union is seeking to enjoin the new play and obtain damages on behalf of the screenwriter of the 2000 movie that began the franchise. read more. THR, Esq. The Business Movies Business Labor THR exclusive
Digital Media Law
NOVEMBER 14, 2010
Business representative Steve Hulett and most incumbents re-elected. Details in my Hollywood Reporter piece. -. Watch for my new book “Hollywood on Strike!,” due out next month. Subscribe to my blog ( jhandel.com ) for more about entertainment law and digital media law. Check out my residuals chart there too. Go to the blog itself to subscribe via RSS or email. Or, follow me on Twitter , friend me on Facebook , or subscribe to my Forbes.com or Huffington Post articles.
Music Technology Policy
JUNE 18, 2018
Strangely overlooked in the hoorah about the mechanical licensing collective is the CASE Act that would finally establish a small claims court for copyright infringement. If Big Tech is going to give themselves another safe harbor in MMA for the mechanical licenses they failed miserably to obtain, the least that the Congress can do is pass the CASE Act to establish some remedy for copyright infringement that is available to all copyright owners.
Music Technology Policy
JUNE 22, 2016
YouTube stars have started a labour guild to represent low paid video producers for sites like YouTube. via @andreworlowski: YouTube sharecroppers start Internet Creators Guild, the world’s most useless trade union — Artist Rights WatchWorkers of YouTube, Unite! But Be Awesomely Unroiled Up! But it promises to be really, really polite and it won’t be asking Google for more money.
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
NOVEMBER 17, 2011
Eriq Gardner The Guild tells the judge about the huge stakes and why the case shouldn't get bogged down in legal maneuvers from the well-heeled music industry. read more. THR, Esq. Music Music Business
Digital Media Law
OCTOBER 2, 2009
I'll be teaching a course on entertainment unions and guilds starting in January. He begins teaching a semester-long class on entertainment unions and guilds in January 2010 and will continue to represent clients at TroyGould. Handel’s course focuses on legal analysis along with discussions of union history, policy and politics in order to illuminate the abstract language of guild contracts.
Media Law Prof Blog
SEPTEMBER 13, 2011
From the Authors Guild website: The Authors Guild, the Australian Society of Authors, the Union Des Écrivaines et des Écrivains Québécois (UNEQ), and eight individual authors have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in federal court against HathiTrust, the University of
Entertainment Litigation Blog
DECEMBER 15, 2007
Barry Haldeman, one of my colleagues in the JMBM Entertainment Group, wrote an interesting op-ed piece for the Malibu Times on the WGA strike. You can read his piece here. As Barry writes, the principal issue preventing a deal with the writers seems to be how to handle, and divide revenues from, new media such as cell phones and the internet. Not surprisingly, each side is wary of giving much ground because of the potential ramifications as these new media become more popular.
Thompson On Hollywood
FEBRUARY 16, 2009
There isn't much suspense building for this year's Oscar show on February 22--final ballots are due Tuesday, February 17--as the various guilds dole out their prizes. I always enjoy the Art Directors Guild awards, a black-tie affair at the Beverly Hilton, partly because I get a kick out of the anachronistic Johnny Crawford orchestra; the bandleader sings and swings just like Fred Astaire, top hat and all.
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
AUGUST 12, 2015
One large P&A lender argues a September auction is designed to enrich some of the other financial firms. read more. THR, Esq. The Business Movies Business THR Online
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
JANUARY 9, 2012
Alex Ben Block The groups aim to recover up to $120 million, through recovery of assets, as well as lawsuits against any parties who are found to have acted fraudulently. read more. THR, Esq. THR, Esq. The Business Movies Business David Bergstein Labor
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
AUGUST 8, 2011
Jonathan Handel The lawsuit filed Friday also alleges a practice of discrimination, but may face a statute of limitations challenge. The DGA has 30 days to file a response. read more. THR, Esq. The Business Business Labor
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
DECEMBER 24, 2013
Producers of the 2010 Sylvester Stallone film claim that one of the credited writers withheld e-mails in a secret fight over authorship. read more. Movies THR Online THR, Esq. Labor Business
Digital Media Law
JANUARY 30, 2009
In an extraordinary interview with The Wrap , SAG President Alan Rosenberg said that “actors are frightened little children,” and referred to his opponents—a majority of the SAG board—as “liars and manipulators.” Rosenberg also said of himself that “my life sucks,” and then, accompanying himself on guitar, actually sung a plaintive folk song of his own devising, whose lyrics included such lines as “Al and Doug and Doug Allen?, they stand up way too hard. I will bury them right in my own backyard.”
Entertainment Litigation Blog
JANUARY 15, 2008
The Writers Guild of America strike is now entering its third month. In addition, the Directors Guild reportedly has achieved some progress in its "pre-negotiations" with the AMPTP. Production on film and television projects have ground to a halt. Yet, as my JMBM colleague, E. Barry Haldeman, suggests in his Malibu Times op-ed piece, the end may be in sight.
Media Law Prof Blog
SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
The Writers Guild of America East has scheduled a hearing to consider charges that Joan Rivers worked on the "Fashion Police" as a writer and showrunner while the show''s writers have been on strike. If found in violation of WGA
Music Technology Policy
OCTOBER 19, 2010
The following is an excerpt from an interview with Rick Carnes, President of the Songwriter's Guild of America. The full length interview runs in Music Tech Policy Monthly.MTP: In the news this week, Jim Griffin is quoted as acknowledging he underestimated the complexity of his Choruss plan which he largely blames on there being an inconveniently large number of songwriters. To me, this is
Media Law Prof Blog
APRIL 22, 2011
The Writers Guild went on strike in 2007. Jonathan Handel, TroyGould & the Hollywood Reporter, has published Hollywood on Strike! Excerpts), Los Angeles, Hollywood Analytics (2011). Here is the abstract. The big issue: fees for programs released on new media
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
APRIL 5, 2016
A lawsuit over a film score produced overseas has suddenly become an important labor case in Hollywood. read more. THR, Esq. The Business Movies Business THR Online Labor
Music Technology Policy
JUNE 3, 2014
''
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
JUNE 29, 2016
The parties are also said to be looking at how to avoid future lawsuits. read more. THR, Esq. The Business Movies Music Business THR Online Labor
Music Technology Policy
AUGUST 25, 2009
As the witching hour of the Google Books Settlement draws nigh, a telling slip from the Authors Guild general counsel Allen Adler, from whose intellectual loins sprang this freak (at least in part): "As for having to wait until October to see whether the settlement is approved, there's only one thing that bothers Adler: 'The downside is that it gives people who are opposed to this more time to rabble-rouse.'"
THR, Esq. Entertainment & Media Law Blog
SEPTEMBER 8, 2010
Studio lawyers take note: In the first high-profile decision applying Washington state's new anti-SLAPP law, a federal judge has tossed invasion of privacy and misappropriation of likeness claims against filmmaker Michael Moore over his film "Sicko." The judge ruled that.
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