[sudo-discuss] ISPs will no longer send copyright alerts in the U.S.

[danarauz at gmail.com]

http://www.pcgamer.com/internet-service-providers-will-no-longer-send-copyright-alerts-in-the-us/

Internet service providers will no longer send copyright alerts in the
U.S.Failed
strategy for fighting piracy.
"For the past several years internet service providers (ISPs) have been
sending copyright alerts to online pirates on behalf of movie studios and
record labels. These letters often used intimidating language with threats
of hefty fines and service throttling, but much to the dismay to those who
supported the effort, the letters were about as effective as spitting in
the ocean to raise the tide.

Even so, many of those involved in the initiative called the voluntary
program a success even though they're choosing not to extend it.

“After four years of extensive consumer education and engagement, the
Copyright Alert System will conclude its work. The program demonstrated
that real progress is possible when content creators, internet innovators
and consumer advocates come together in a collaborative and
consensus-driven process. CAS succeeded in educating many people about the
availability of legal content, as well as about issues associated with
online infringement," members of the Center for Copyright Information said
in a statement
<http://www.copyrightinformation.org/statement/statement-on-the-copyright-alert-system/>
.

The program offered considerable leeway to pirates. Potential penalties
weren't levied until an offender ignored six or more warnings and generally
did not include the cancellation of internet service. Part of the reason is
that ISPs weren't comfortable with being liable for their customers'
behavior and having to penalize them.

It took years to hammer out an agreement between major ISPs and both the
Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and Recording Industry
Association of America (RIAA). Part of the agreement called for the
creation of the Center for Copyright Information to take charge of the
program and provide a way for those who received notices to challenge them
in arbitration.

While some are spinning the program as a successful education campaign,
Steven Fabrizio, executive vice president and global general counsel at the
MPAA, remains frustrated at the lack of results among the worst offenders.

"These repeat infringers are the ones who drive ongoing and problematic P2P
piracy. In fact, an estimated 981 million movies and TV shows were
downloaded in the U.S. last year using P2P," Fabrizio said in a
statement, according
to Variety
<http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/copyright-alerts-piracy-mpaa-comcast-att-1201971756/>
.
As to the copyright alert system, Fabrizio said that even though a
"significant number" of users stopped pirating content as a result of the
alerts, the program "was simply not set up to deal with the hardcore repeat
infringer problem." He also said that ultimately it's up to the ISPs to
address the issue by leveraging the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
"


-- 
Daniel

Signal: 415.336.9143 <https://whispersystems.org/>

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