Members of the entertainment industry are joining forces with several U.S. Internet service providers (ISPs) to launch the Copyright Alert System, an effort aimed at thwarting the illegal sharing of copyrighted materials. Participating entertainment companies have joined together to form the Center for Copyright Information, which is working with content partners to persuade consumers to purchase copyrighted materials from the proper sources. Using the newly created Copyright Alert System, copyright owners can send notices alleging copyright infringement to the participating ISPs, who will then send Copyright Alerts to subscribers. The system will allow subscribers to receive six alerts: two “Educational Alerts” providing information on obtaining legal content, two “Acknowledgment” Alerts requiring the subscriber to respond to the ISP regarding the Alert, and two “Mitigation” Alerts that impose consequences like slowing down the users’ download speeds. The partnering entertainment groups and ISPs believe the new system will serve as a deterrent for customers illegally sharing copyrighted materials. The group noted that the Copyright Alert System is not designed to go beyond the six-alert process, and although many customers will be deterred by the 6th Alert, customers who will continue to infringe content owners’ rights after the 6th alert will likely be likely be dealt with in a different manner. This initiative has already received criticism from digital civil rights groups. Read more about this copyright alert system here: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2013/02/entertainment-and-internet-providers-launch-copyright-alert-system/
Special thanks to Michael Goldman of Lite DePalma Greenberg for written contribution and Terry Camp of Budd Larner for submitting this article!