Breaking News English Lesson: Copyright Infringement

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Major record labels sue AI companies over copyright (27th June 2024)

The Reading / Listening - Copyright Infringement - Level 3

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing many things in our lives. Not all of the things are good. Some of the world's biggest record labels are suing two AI companies over possible copyright infringements. The labels include Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Records. They say two AI start-up companies called Suno and Udio are infringing their copyrighted music on "an almost unimaginable scale". The labels say the AI start-ups have created models to produce music that could "saturate the market with machine-generated content". Lawyers for the record labels say AI-generated music, "will directly compete with, cheapen and ultimately drown out the genuine sound recordings". This could be a disaster for artists.

Many AI companies say their software creates content that is protected under copyright law by the "fair use doctrine". This is a special rule that allows people to reuse copyrighted material legally. Fair use means people can reuse music and written articles for things like news reporting and comedy. Suno CEO Mikey Shulman defended his company. He said: "Our technology is transformative. It is designed to generate completely new output, not to memorize and regurgitate pre-existing content." However, the record labels say the start-ups have created songs that sound exactly like "Dancing Queen" by ABBA and "My Girl" by The Temptations. The labels want compensation of $150,000 per song from the AI start-ups.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Copyright Infringement - Level 0, Copyright Infringement - Level 1 or Copyright Infringement - Level 2

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckrrr8yelzvo
https://www.wired.com/story/ai-music-generators-suno-and-udio-sued-for-copyright-infringement/
https://www.billboard.com/pro/major-label-lawsuit-ai-firms-suno-udio-copyright-infringement/

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. COPYRIGHT: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about copyright. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
A.I. / record labels / copyright / start-up companies / music / lawyers / sound / artists
software / rule / news reporting / comedy / technology / songs / ABBA / compensation
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. EDUCATION: Students A strongly believe we all need education on copyright; Students B strongly believe we don't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: How is A.I. affecting these things? Is this good or bad? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

	A.I. Effects	Good / Bad (Why?)
Copyright
Education
Internet search
Homework
Call centres
Music

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

See a sample

5. FAIR: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "fair". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL: Rank these with your partner. Put the things most in need of copyright protection at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Music
Novels
Poetry
Paintings
Computer software
Movies
Architecture
Songs

Vocabulary

Paragraph 1

1.	label (noun)	a.	Very hard to think about because it is so strange or surprising.
2.	infringement	b.	Real and true, not fake.
3.	unimaginable	c.	A company that makes recorded music.
4.	scale (noun)	d.	Breaking a rule or a law.
5.	drown out	e.	A full range of different levels of people or things, from lowest to highest.
6.	genuine	f.	To make a noise so loud that it covers another sound.
7.	disaster	g.	A very bad event that causes a lot of damage or hurt.

Paragraph 2

8.	content (noun)	h.	A funny show, movie, or story that makes people laugh.
9.	protected	i.	Creative material from singers, writers, etc. like songs, literature, articles…
10.	fair	j.	A set of beliefs or ideas that people are taught.
11.	doctrine	k.	Precisely.
12.	comedy	l.	Kept safe from harm or danger.
13.	exactly	m.	Money or something given to someone to make up for a loss or damage.
14.	compensation	n.	Treating everyone in the same way without cheating.

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

All of the world's biggest record labels are suing A.I. companies. T / F
Record labels say the level of copyright infringement is unimaginable. T / F
Record labels say AI-generated content could flood the market. T / F
More artists are going to sing about disasters. T / F
The "fair use doctrine" allows material to be used for news stories. T / F
An A.I. start-up CEO says his software only creates new music. T / F
The article mentions an ABBA song called "My Girl". T / F
Record labels want the start-ups to pay $150 per copyrighted song. T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

possible
unimaginable
scale
content
disaster
protected
generate
regurgitate
exactly
compensation

create
material
precisely
potential
damages
level
safeguarded
catastrophe
repeat
unheard of

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

possible copyright
an almost unimaginable
saturate the market with machine-
drown
This could be a disaster
the "fair use"
people can reuse music
CEO Mikey Shulman defended
It is designed to generate completely
The labels want compensation

scale
new output
doctrine
for artists
of $150,000 per song
his company
infringements
and written articles
out the genuine sound
generated content

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

possible
artists
saturate
changing
drown
scale
start-up
compete

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is (1) _____________________ many things in our lives. Not all of the things are good. Some of the world's biggest record labels are suing two AI companies over (2) _____________________ copyright infringements. The labels include Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Records. They say two AI (3) _____________________ companies called Suno and Udio are infringing their copyrighted music on "an almost unimaginable (4) _____________________". The labels say the AI start-ups have created models to produce music that could "(5) _____________________ the market with machine-generated content". Lawyers for the record labels say AI-generated music, "will directly (6) _____________________ with, cheapen and ultimately (7) _____________________ out the genuine sound recordings". This could be a disaster for (8) _____________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.

defended
doctrine
compensation
new
content
per
reuse
exactly

Many AI companies say their software creates (9) _____________________ that is protected under copyright law by the "fair use (10) _____________________". This is a special rule that allows people to reuse copyrighted material legally. Fair use means people can (11) _____________________ music and written articles for things like news reporting and comedy. Suno CEO Mikey Shulman (12) _____________________ his company. He said: "Our technology is transformative. It is designed to generate completely (13) _____________________ output, not to memorize and regurgitate pre-existing content." However, the record labels say the start-ups have created songs that sound (14) _____________________ like "Dancing Queen" by ABBA and "My Girl" by The Temptations. The labels want (15) _____________________ of $150,000 (16) ____________________ song from the AI start-ups.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing many things ______
     a. in our alive
     b. in our hives
     c. in our olives
     d. in our lives
2) infringing their copyrighted music on an ______
     a. almost unimaginable shale
     b. almost unimaginable stale
     c. almost unimaginable scale
     d. almost unimaginable snail
3) AI start-ups have created models to produce music that could ______
     a. saturate the market
     b. saturated the market
     c. saturates the market
     d. saturating the market
4) directly compete with, cheapen and ultimately drown out the ______
     a. genuinely sound recordings
     b. genuine sounded recordings
     c. genuine sound recordings
     d. genuine sound recording
5) This could be a ______
     a. disaster for artists
     b. disaster at artists
     c. disaster of artists
     d. disaster on artists

6) their software creates content that is protected ______
     a. below copyright law
     b. under copyright law
     c. beneath copyright law
     d. lower copyright law
7) This is a special rule that allows people to reuse ______
     a. copyrighted material illegally
     b. copyrighted material eagerly
     c. copyrighted material legally
     d. copyrighted material legalize
8) people can reuse music and written articles for things like news ______
     a. reporting and funny
     b. reporting and comedy
     c. reporting and comic
     d. reporting and comedian
9) It is designed to generate ______
     a. completely new output
     b. completely news output
     c. completely knew output
     d. completely anew output
10) the start-ups have created songs that sound exactly ______
     a. likes "Dancing Queen"
     b. likely "Dancing Queen"
     c. liked "Dancing Queen"
     d. like "Dancing Queen"

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is (1) ____________________ in our lives. Not all of the things are good. Some of the world's biggest record labels are suing two AI companies (2) ____________________ infringements. The labels include Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Records. They say two AI (3) ____________________ called Suno and Udio are infringing their copyrighted music on "an almost unimaginable scale". The labels say the AI start-ups have created models to produce music that could "(4) ____________________ with machine-generated content". Lawyers for the record labels say AI-generated music, "will (5) ____________________, cheapen and ultimately drown out the genuine sound recordings". This could be a (6) ____________________.

Many AI companies say their software (7) ____________________ is protected under copyright law by the "fair use doctrine". This is a special (8) ____________________ people to reuse copyrighted material legally. Fair use means people can reuse music and written (9) ____________________ like news reporting and comedy. Suno CEO Mikey Shulman defended his company. He said: "Our technology is transformative. It is designed to generate (10) ____________________, not to memorize and regurgitate pre-existing content." However, the record labels say the start-ups have created songs that (11) ___________________ "Dancing Queen" by ABBA and "My Girl" by The Temptations. The labels (12) ____________________ $150,000 per song from the AI start-ups.

Comprehension questions

What does the article say A.I. is changing in our lives?
How many start-up companies are being sued?
What level of copyright infringements do the record labels point to?
What could machine-generated content do to the market?
For whom could AI-generated music be a disaster?
What copyright rule allows people to use copyrighted material?
What can copyrighted material be used for besides news reporting?
Who is Mikey Shulman?
Who sang the song "My Girl"?
How much compensation do the labels want per song?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say A.I. is changing in our lives?
a) technology
b) music
c) many things
d) record labels
2) How many start-up companies are being sued?
a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 5
3) What level of copyright infringements do the record labels point to?
a) low levels
b) unimaginable levels
c) crazy levels
d) normal levels
4) What could machine-generated content do to the market?
a) make it interesting
b) make it boring
c) destroy it
d) saturate it
5) For whom could AI-generated music be a disaster?
a) guitar makers
b) lawyers
c) artists
d) orchestra conductors

6) What copyright rule allows people to use copyrighted material?
a) rule #72
b) the fair use doctrine
c) exclusive rights
d) Creative Commons
7) What can copyrighted material be used for besides news reporting?
a) medical guides
b) educational material
c) recipe books
d) comedy
8) Who is Mikey Shulman?
a) a record label boss
b) the CEO of Suno
c) a lawyer
d) a rock singer
9) Who sang the song "My Girl"?
a) Elvis Presley
b) The Temptations
c) ABBA
d) Taylor Swift
10) How much compensation do the labels want per song?
a) $150,000
b) $15,000
c) $1,050,000
d) $1,500,000

Role play

Role A – Music
You think music is the thing that needs copyright protection most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't need as much protection. Also, tell the others which of these needs protecting least (and why): paintings, computer software or movies.

Role B – Paintings
You think paintings are the things that needs copyright protection most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't need as much protection. Also, tell the others which of these needs protecting least (and why): music, computer software or movies.

Role C – Computer Software
You think computer software is the thing that needs copyright protection most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't need as much protection. Also, tell the others which of these needs protecting least (and why): paintings, music or movies.

Role D – Movies
You think movies are the things that needs copyright protection most. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't need as much protection. Also, tell the others which of these needs protecting least (and why): paintings, computer software or music.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'A.I.'

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

and 'copyright'.
________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

________________

• Share your findings with your partners.

• Make questions using the words you found.

• Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

•Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

changing

include

scale

market

compete

disaster

protected

special

defended

output

exactly

per

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion - Copyright Infringement

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

What did you think when you read the headline?
What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'record'?
What do you know about copyright?
Who owns the music that artists create?
What are the good things about AI?
What do record labels do?
Is it OK for companies to use AI to recreate famous songs?
Do you think AI will kill off human music makers?
Do you think AI music will be better than music humans make?
What advice do you have for people who want to be pop stars?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
What do you think of when you hear the word 'copyright'?
What do you think about what you read?
What are the bad things about AI?
What do you think of the "fair use doctrine"?
What would happen if there were no copyright rules?
Does using copyrighted material make someone a criminal?
Should the start-up companies pay the record labels?
What do you use AI for?
What questions would you like to ask the start-up CEOs?

Discussion — Write your own questions

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing many (1) ____ in our lives. Not all of the things are good. Some of the world's biggest record labels are suing two AI companies (2) ____ possible copyright infringements. The labels include Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Records. They say two AI start-up companies called Suno and Udio are infringing their copyrighted music (3) ____ "an almost unimaginable scale". The labels say the AI start-ups have created models to produce music that could "(4) ____ the market with machine-generated content". Lawyers for the record labels say AI-generated music, "will (5) ____ compete with, cheapen and ultimately drown out the genuine sound recordings". This could be a (6) ____ for artists.

Many AI companies say their software creates content that is protected (7) ____ copyright law by the "fair use doctrine". This is a special rule that allows people to reuse copyrighted material (8) ____. Fair use means people can reuse music and written articles for things like news reporting and (9) ____. Suno CEO Mikey Shulman defended his company. He said: "Our technology is transformative. It is designed to generate completely new output, not to (10) ____ and regurgitate pre-existing content." However, the record labels say the start-ups have created songs that (11) ____ exactly like "Dancing Queen" by ABBA and "My Girl" by The Temptations. The labels want compensation of $150,000 (12) ____ song from the AI start-ups.

Which of these words go in the above text?

(a) thing (b) thingies (c) things (d) thongs
(a) over (b) under (c) at (d) by
(a) on (b) at (c) by (d) in
(a) saturate (b) grate (c) plate (d) slate
(a) directs (b) direct (c) direction (d) directly
(a) songwriting (b) musical (c) confidence (d) disaster
(a) under (b) low (c) below (d) beneath
(a) illegal (b) legal (c) legalize (d) legally
(a) comedy (b) funny (c) humorous (d) laugh
(a) memorable (b) memorize (c) memory (d) memories
(a) hear (b) sound (c) listen (d) sing
(a) far (b) for (c) par (d) per

Spelling

Paragraph 1

record labels are niusg two AI companies
on an almost unimaginable lceas
music that could arusetta the market
AI-eegardent music
gnuneei sound recordings
This could be a tesasrid for artists

Paragraph 2

edotptrec under copyright law
the fair use citdeonr
news reporting and odymec
pre-nseigtxi content
songs that sound clteayx like "Dancing Queen"
The labels want ptscmoonaine of $150,000

Put the text back together

(...) content". Lawyers for the record labels say AI-generated music, "will directly compete with, cheapen and ultimately drown
(...) comedy. Suno CEO Mikey Shulman defended his company. He said: "Our technology is transformative. It is designed
(...) Many AI companies say their software creates content that is protected under copyright
(...) content." However, the record labels say the start-ups have created songs that sound exactly like "Dancing Queen"
( 1 ) Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing many things in our lives. Not all of the things are good. Some of the world's biggest record
(...) out the genuine sound recordings". This could be a disaster for artists.
(...) to generate completely new output, not to memorize and regurgitate pre-existing
(...) infringing their copyrighted music on "an almost unimaginable scale". The labels say the AI start-ups have created models to
(...) law by the "fair use doctrine". This is a special rule that allows people to reuse copyrighted material
(...) include Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Records. They say two AI start-up companies called Suno and Udio are
(...) produce music that could "saturate the market with machine-generated
(...) by ABBA and "My Girl" by The Temptations. The labels want compensation of $150,000 per song from the AI start-ups.
(...) labels are suing two AI companies over possible copyright infringements. The labels
(...) legally. Fair use means people can reuse music and written articles for things like news reporting and

Put the words in the right order

AI lives . in things changing our is many
Suing possible over two companies AI copyright infringements .
copyrighted unimaginable scale . almost an on music Infringing
AI to start-ups have produce models music . created
could be a disaster for artists . This
that Content law . is copyright under protected
means people can music . Fair use reuse
designed is generate output . to completely It new
sound exactly like ABBA . that songs Created
song . want The of compensation labels per $150,000

Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing many things in our live / lives. Not all of the things are good. Some of the world's biggest record labels are seeing / suing two AI companies over possible / possibly copyright infringements. The labels include Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Records. They say two AI finish up / start-up companies called Suno and Udio are infringing their copyrighted music on "an almost unimaginable stale / scale". The labels say the AI start-ups have created model / models to produce music that could "saturate the store / market with machine-generated content". Lawyers for the record labels speak / say AI-generated music, "will directly compete with, cheapen and ultimately brown / drown out the genuine sound recordings". This could be a disastrous / disaster for artists.

Many AI companies say their / them software creates content that are / is protected under copyright law by the "fair used / use doctrine". This is a special rule that allows people to refuse / reuse copyrighted material legally. Fair use means people can reuse music and written articles for songs / things like news reporting and comedy. Suno CEO Mikey Shulman defence / defended his company. He said: "Our technology is transformative. It is designing / designed to generate completely new output, not to memory / memorize and regurgitate pre-existing content." However, the record labels say the start-ups have created songs / sings that sound exactly like "Dancing Queen" by ABBA and "My Girl" by The Temptations. The labels want compensation of $150,000 per / for song from the AI start-ups.

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

_rt_f_c__l _nt_ll_g_nc_ (__) _s ch_ng_ng m_ny th_ngs _n __r l_v_s. N_t _ll _f th_ th_ngs _r_ g__d. S_m_ _f th_ w_rld's b_gg_st r_c_rd l_b_ls _r_ s__ng tw_ __ c_mp_n__s _v_r p_ss_bl_ c_pyr_ght _nfr_ng_m_nts. Th_ l_b_ls _ncl_d_ S_ny M_s_c, _n_v_rs_l M_s_c Gr__p _nd W_rn_r R_c_rds. Th_y s_y tw_ __ st_rt-_p c_mp_n__s c_ll_d S_n_ _nd _d__ _r_ _nfr_ng_ng th__r c_pyr_ght_d m_s_c _n "_n _lm_st _n_m_g_n_bl_ sc_l_". Th_ l_b_ls s_y th_ __ st_rt-_ps h_v_ cr__t_d m_d_ls t_ pr_d_c_ m_s_c th_t c__ld "s_t_r_t_ th_ m_rk_t w_th m_ch_n_-g_n_r_t_d c_nt_nt". L_wy_rs f_r th_ r_c_rd l_b_ls s_y __-g_n_r_t_d m_s_c, "w_ll d_r_ctly c_mp_t_ w_th, ch__p_n _nd _lt_m_t_ly dr_wn __t th_ g_n__n_ s__nd r_c_rd_ngs". Th_s c__ld b_ _ d_s_st_r f_r _rt_sts.

M_ny __ c_mp_n__s s_y th__r s_ftw_r_ cr__t_s c_nt_nt th_t _s pr_t_ct_d _nd_r c_pyr_ght l_w by th_ "f__r _s_ d_ctr_n_". Th_s _s _ sp_c__l r_l_ th_t _ll_ws p__pl_ t_ r__s_ c_pyr_ght_d m_t_r__l l_g_lly. F__r _s_ m__ns p__pl_ c_n r__s_ m_s_c _nd wr_tt_n _rt_cl_s f_r th_ngs l_k_ n_ws r_p_rt_ng _nd c_m_dy. S_n_ C__ M_k_y Sh_lm_n d_f_nd_d h_s c_mp_ny. H_ s__d: "__r t_chn_l_gy _s tr_nsf_rm_t_v_. _t _s d_s_gn_d t_ g_n_r_t_ c_mpl_t_ly n_w __tp_t, n_t t_ m_m_r_z_ _nd r_g_rg_t_t_ pr_-_x_st_ng c_nt_nt." H_w_v_r, th_ r_c_rd l_b_ls s_y th_ st_rt-_ps h_v_ cr__t_d s_ngs th_t s__nd _x_ctly l_k_ "D_nc_ng Q___n" by _BB_ _nd "My G_rl" by Th_ T_mpt_t__ns. Th_ l_b_ls w_nt c_mp_ns_t__n _f $150,000 p_r s_ng fr_m th_ __ st_rt-_ps.

Punctuate the text and add capitals

artificial intelligence ai is changing many things in our lives not all of the things are good some of the worlds biggest record labels are suing two ai companies over possible copyright infringements the labels include sony music universal music group and warner records they say two ai startup companies called suno and udio are infringing their copyrighted music on an almost unimaginable scale the labels say the ai startups have created models to produce music that could saturate the market with machinegenerated content lawyers for the record labels say aigenerated music will directly compete with cheapen and ultimately drown out the genuine sound recordings this could be a disaster for artists

many ai companies say their software creates content that is protected under copyright law by the fair use doctrine this is a special rule that allows people to reuse copyrighted material legally fair use means people can reuse music and written articles for things like news reporting and comedy suno ceo mikey shulman defended his company he said our technology is transformative it is designed to generate completely new output not to memorize and regurgitate preexisting content however the record labels say the start-ups have created songs that sound exactly like dancing queen by abba and my girl by the temptations the labels want compensation of 150000 per song from the ai startups

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

ArtificialIntelligence(AI)ischangingmanythingsinourlives.Notallofth
ethingsaregood.Someoftheworld'sbiggestrecordlabelsaresuingtwo
AIcompaniesoverpossiblecopyrightinfringements.Thelabelsinclude
SonyMu sic,UniversalMusicGroupandWarnerRecords.Theys aytwo
AIstart-upcompaniescalledSunoandUdioareinfringingtheircopyright
edmusicon"analmostunimaginablescale".ThelabelssaytheAIstart-
upshavecreatedmodelstoproducemusicthatcould"saturatethemark
etwithmachine-generatedcontent".Lawyersfortherecordlabelssa
yAI-generatedmusic,"willdirectlycompetewith,cheapenandultima
telydrownoutthegenuinesoundrecordings".Thiscouldbeadisasterfor
artists.ManyAIcompaniessaytheirsoftwarecreatescontentthatisprot
ectedundercopyrightlawbythe"fairusedoctrine".Thisisaspecialrulet
hatallowspeopletoreusecopyrightedmateriallegally.Fairusemeansp
eoplecanreusemusicandwrittenarticlesforthingslikenewsreportinga
ndcomedy.SunoCEOMikeyShulmandefendedhiscompany.Hesaid:"
Ourtechnologyistransformative.Itisdesignedtogeneratecompletely
newoutput,nottomemorizeandregurgitatepreexistingcontent."How
ever,therecordlabelssaythestartupshavecreatedsongsthatsoundex
actlylike"DancingQueen"byABBAand"MyGirl"byTheTemptations.Th
elabelswantcompensationof$150,000persongfromtheAIstart-ups.

Free writing

Write about the lesson page for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Academic writing

No one should be allowed to make money from other people's material. Discuss.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Homework

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. COPYRIGHT: Make a poster about copyright. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
4. LIFE IN PRISON: Write a magazine article about copyright thieves being put in prison for life for stealing other people's creativity. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on copyright. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on copyright. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

News
Warm ups
Pre-reading / Post-reading
Using headlines
Working with words
While-reading / While-listening
Moving from text to speech
Post-reading / Post-listening
Discussions
Using opinions
Plans
Language
Using lists
Using quotes
Task-based activities
Role plays
Using the central characters in the article
Using themes from the news
Homework

Buy my book

$US 9.99

Answers

(Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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Breaking News English Lesson: Copyright Infringement

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