Today, the film, television, music and ISP industries announced a landmark agreement on a common framework for “Copyright Alerts” – a state-of-the-art system similar to credit card fraud alerts – that will educate and notify Internet subscribers when their Internet service accounts possibly are being misused for online content theft. This voluntary system, which will educate subscribers about potential content theft on their Internet accounts, benefits consumers and copyright holders alike.
Until now, there hasn’t been a common framework of best practices for alerting Internet subscribers about possible content theft. This new system will send up to six warnings to consumers, alerting them that their broadband accounts may have been used to steal digital media. The agreement between content providers and ISPs also establishes the Center for Copyright Information, whose mission will be to further educate consumers about issues around online content theft.
In the news release announcing the agreement, James Assey, NCTA’s Executive Vice President, had this to say:
“Consumers have a right to know if their broadband account is being used for illegal online content theft, or if their own online activity infringes on copyright rules – inadvertently or otherwise – so that they can correct that activity. We are confident that, once informed that content theft is taking place on their accounts, the great majority of broadband subscribers will take steps to stop it. That’s why the educational nature of this initiative is so critical.”
NCTA worked in an advisory capacity with ISPs to help complete the agreement. You can read the announcement here or read some of the news coverage.
- Entertainment and Broadband Companies Partner to Curb Online Content Theft
- Cable, Telcos Join Digital-Piracy Crackdown Effort
- Labels Reach Deal With ISPs on Antipiracy Effort
- Major ISPs agree to “six strikes” copyright enforcement plan
- Entertainment giants and broadband providers team up on piracy effort
Tags: piracy
