Big, Small Media Create Colluding Copyright Cartel:

Some of the biggest and smallest media names announced Thursday the formation of what best can be described as a copyright cartel.

Disney, CBS, Microsoft, Fox, NBC, Viacom, Dailymotion, MySpace and Veoh Networks announced so-called User Generated Content Principles that appear aimed at stifling fair use. The announcement calls for the 'implementation of state of the art filtering technology with the goal to eliminate infringing content on (user-generated content services), including blocking infringing uploads before they are made available to the public.'

While the plan calls for 'implementation' of filtering technology, it suggests 'cooperating to ensure that the technology is implemented in a manner that effectively balances legitimate interests, including fair use.'

THREAT LEVEL points out that Google, the owner of YouTube, is conspicuously absent from the cabal.

One reason is that Viacom is suing Google on allegations YouTube is a bastion of infringers. Another reason Google isn't hooking up with the cooperative is because it unveiled Monday it was beta testing its own filtering technology for its popular YouTube site.

Obviously Veoh is on board. Last month, it got pegged with a lawsuit from Universal Music, the world's largest music company, accusing the video- and file-sharing site of allowing its users to commit massive copyright infringement.

Colluding. Copyright. Cartel.

Photo unusualimage2004

See Also:

• Google Unveils YouTube Copyright Filter to Mixed Reviews
• Study This: Copyright Law Hurts, Helps Economy
• TorrentSpy Founders Create Copyright Filtering Company
• Presidential Debates on the Web: How Does Fair Use Apply?
• AT&T To Police Internet For Copyright Infractions

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(Read Original Article - Via Threat Level.)