Intellectual Property Law

Media Companies Agree on On-Line Copyright Guidelines

By Tim Feathers

Updated Oct. 26, 2007  to add a link to the document - see:  Principles for User Generated Content Services

Several of the largest media companies have agreed to use technology to eliminate copyright-infringing content uploaded by Web users and to block any pirated material before it is publicly accessible.  That is part of a set of principles designed to "offer a road map for unlocking the enormous potential of online video and user-generated content," Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger said in a statement issued by the participating companies.

Some of the other companies involved are Viacom Inc, Walt Disney Co, Microsoft Corp, News Corp's Fox and MySpace units, CBS Corp, General Electric Co's NBC Universal, and online video services such as Veoh Networks and Dailymotion.  Notably absent was Google, owner of YouTube.

Essentially, the copyright holders in the group have agreed not to pursue Internet companies for infringement claims if their sites adhere to certain principles. Those principles include eliminating copyright-infringing content uploaded by users to Web sites, and blocking any infringing material before it is publicly accessible.  The pact reportedly is not legally binding, but more of a trust-building exercise among the companies, according to the Wall Street Journal report. 

Full post as published by The TechKnowledgy Blog on October 25, 2007 (boomark / email).