Nordic noir - true-crime plagiarism in Sweden

• A Swedish court has ruled that Mordpodden, a true-crime podcast, infringed the copyright of a 2015 book, Kakelugnsmordet in an episode about the same case. The author of the book, Lars Ohlson, claimed that his book had been plagiarised 80 different times in the podcast episode. The court also found that the writer and researcher of the podcast, Amanda Karlsson of Gothenburg, had acted with gross negligence. She was fined “70 day-fines”, the income-dependent penalty used in the country, probably costing her around US$3,500; her co-host was acquitted.

• Also in Sweden, Mordpodden’s publisher Bauer Media have removed nearly 330 podcast episodes after multiple plagiarism claims in an investigation by Swedish Television.

  • In August last year, Crime Junkie pulled five episodes after it, too, was accused of copying other peoples’ material.

• “Podcast highlights without the fluff” - a new service called Smash Notes has been launched on ProductHunt, giving key points from podcasts. (Try the key points from this episode of Podcast Junkies with our Editor). “Podcasts hold an enormous amount of insights, but unless we unlock them and make them discoverable, most of this amazing information will go to waste”, says the founder, Kirill Zubovsky.

• Podchaser has integrated its ratings with Podcast Guru, an Android podcast app. Podcast ratings and episode ratings are available within the app. (We’re on Podchaser and on Podcast Guru).

  
  Aug 23 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

• Podbean Live has launched 'Unlisted Mode’, allowing invitation-only streaming, and remote recording, with co-hosts and guests. It can be used for teaching or discussion groups, as well as patron-extras.

  
  This link is no longer available, as at Aug 23 2023

• Muck Rack, a media service for PR companies, has launched what they call “the most comprehensive podcast media database” in the world. “Podcasters can also create their own free public portfolio page to showcase their work”, says the release.

  
  This link is no longer available, as at Aug 23 2023

• Podcastéo has looked at the French podcast industry. In the top 200, the most popular host is Acast (who bought the French company Pippa last year), ART 19 and Soundcloud; for smaller podcasts, the #1 host is Ausha, another French company. As is the case in many emerging markets, repurposed radio material leads the charts.

• In India, JioSaavn (a music and podcasts streaming app) has unveiled a new exclusive podcast lineup.

Changing times, changing consumption

• PRX has seen 50% more unique listeners across their kids podcasts over the past few weeks, and a 55% increase in consumption of them.

• An audio and radio emergency fund has been established in the UK. It’s been kickstarted with contributions from the Radio Academy, the BBC and Audible; and will give grants of up to £1,000 to individuals who need extra support during the pandemic.

• iHeartMedia has furloughed all “non-essential” staff, and is reported to be chasing $250m in cost-savings.

• Axios claims that consumers crave cheerful content Awesome alliteration also, apparently.

  
  Aug 23 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

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