PRS for Music launches new system ‘MAPS’ to combat online piracyPRS

PRS for Music launches new system ‘MAPS’ to combat online piracy

UK performing rights society PRS for Music has launched a new anti-piracy take-down tool called ‘MAPS.’ The system, whose acronym stands for Member Anti-Piracy System, will offer new ways to combat music piracy in the digital age, where torrent and peer-to-peer file sharing sites make the proliferation and distribution of music all too easy. The system will track and automatically take down unlicensed copies of PRS repertory that crop up online. PRS is the first music industry rights organization to offer a service of this type and scale to its members.

MAPS was developed through a partnership with The Publishing Association, the trade body for the UK book publishing industry, and will initially be available to a select number of members in March 2016. MAPS will scan the internet for unlicensed and infringing content, then allow users to automatically generate and serve DMCA notices to remove the content. It also allows the users to remove links found through Google searches, one of the most common means by which to pirate files. MAPS will work to cut off piracy at its source, making legitimate sources of licensed and sold content easier to find and ensuring that PRS members are fairly compensated for the use of their work.

PRS’s Head of Litigation, Enforcement, and Anti-Piracy, Simon Bourne, said in a statement:

“We are very excited to be rolling-out our new anti-piracy system to publisher members. Where opportunistic and illegal use is made of our members’ repertoire online, without the necessary business model to sustain a legitimate licensed marketplace, it is important that we take action to protect the rights of our members and to preserve the value of their repertoire. MAPS will deliver greater control and transparency to our members, allowing them to participate in our content protection work.

 

The system will also allow for a far greater number of infringements to be detected, reported and removed online. Whilst we call for the responsibilities of internet intermediaries to be clarified by law-makers, MAPS will utilise cutting-edge technology to enhance, automate and streamline PRS for Music’s rights protection work.”

H/T: Record of the Day

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