Piracy Hits Adult Film Industry

From Emilie Branstetter, Tech.Blorge:

We’ve seen the music industry almost decimated by it, DVD and game manufactures try to block it, and networks try to find a way to profit from it. Online sharing has affected many and outraged more, but now we are seeing an unsuspecting candidate come up to the block for battle; the pornography industry.

With the success of internet file share site YouTube, there has been numerous copycat sites emulating the famous "Tube". According to MSNBC, one of the largest adult entertainment companies, Vivid Video, is now copying Viacom’s case against Google’s YouTube.

PornoTube, the site that Vivid Videos is placing the claim against, is being accused of building its user base and advertising up using Vivid’s material. Since PornoTube is a user based service depending on submissions, law states that Vivid must ask for the material to be taken down in a timely manner which they are stating is not happening.

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ASCAP Sues WRIK/Metropolis for Copyright Infringement

From Radio Online:

ASCAP, along with other music groups, have filed a $1.5 million suit against Sun Media's WRIK-FM/Metropolis, IL, and GM Samuel K. Stratemeyer. The suit, filed on November 15 in U.S. District Court, says WRIK "willfully infringed" on copyrighted material by playing songs from the repertory of the ASCAP without license.

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Copyright Alliance Calls on Presidential Candidates to Support America's "Ideas Economy"

From the site:

WASHINGTON, November 20 - The Copyright Alliance today sent letters and questions to presidential candidates requesting information about their plans to maintain meaningful copyright protection and ensure the U.S. copyright industries continue to be the engines of economic growth and job creation they are today.

The letter and questionnaire were sent to 17 candidates seeking the presidential nomination of either the Democratic or Republican parties.

The Copyright Alliance has requested that responses from the candidates and their campaigns be provided by early next year and will make those responses available publicly on a date to be announced.

The Alliance is asking candidates to comment on five topics important to maintaining the strength of America’s Ideas Economy –

• the principle of copyright,


• the application of copyright law to the digital world,


• enforcement of copyright law,


• use of trade agreements to ensure a level playing field for U.S. industry worldwide, and


• free expression.

“The U.S. economy today is driven by ideas, whether they be born of research, technological innovation or the stroke of a pen or strum of a guitar,” said Patrick Ross, Copyright Alliance Executive Director. “This Ideas Economy is the backbone of job creation, growth and surplus trade. The copyright industries employ more than 11 million Americans and we want to call attention to the voices of these creators and the principles important to them among those seeking our nation’s highest office.”

The U.S. copyright industries in 2005 contributed $1.38 trillion to the U.S. economy, or more than 11 percent of U.S. GDP. With an annual growth rate of more than 7 percent, the total copyright industries’ growth is twice that of overall GDP. That growth leads to good quality, well-paying jobs. 11 million American are employed in the creative industries and earn on average $66,727 annually – as compared with the overall U.S. average of $49,828.

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Canada Moves to Reform Copyright Protection

From Robert Thompson, Reuters:

TORONTO (Billboard) - The Canadian music biz is breathing a sigh of relief after a government pledge to introduce long-awaited copyright legislation aimed at solving the country's music piracy problem.

The legislation might be introduced as soon as within the next few weeks. Caroline Grondin, spokesperson for the Industry Canada ministry, said the government is aware of the need to move quickly.

"Canada's Copyright Act needs to be reformed to respond to the challenges of the digital age," she said. "New protections proposed for the benefit of rights holders will seek to address online infringement as well as create a legal framework that encourages the rollout, by rights holders, of new business models."

Renewed interest in Canada's Copyright Act followed the announcement of the legislation in October's Conservative Party "throne speech," essentially a public list of the government's upcoming priorities. Industry sources told Billboard that the government has been under pressure from foreign countries to update the legislation, which could be introduced before Parliament begins its holiday break in December.

Graham Henderson, president of labels body the Canadian Recording Industry Assn. (CRIA), said the legislation will demonstrate the country's commitment to protecting its songwriters and musicians.

The effect of the existing 1921 legislation, underscored by a series of court cases, is that downloading a song or making files available for sharing does not constitute copyright infringement.

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Redstone: "If content is king, copyright is its castle"

From Joseph Weisenthal, paidContent.org:

"Think about it, you can not pay the rent posting videos on YouTube… Most aspiring novelists do not aspire to self-publish. ...The assurance of copyright protection is central to what we’re talking about: a global media operation.”

"Our obligation as media companies is to make an efficient market, one that serves the artist.” Solution is enlist ISPs and device makers. The key is to do something about piracy, not just talk about it. But, Redstone is not deaf to the problems with over-zealous content protection: ”We need to make it easy for consumers to attain our content in a legal manner.” He specifically cited the failures of the music industry to make it easy for consumers to obtain legal content. He also acknowledged that flexibility is necessary in today’s environment, because the consumer is no longer just a customer, they’re also partners and creators.

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