(25 November 2006 7:20 pm)

MUMBAI: Social networking site MySpace.com, has announced plans to launch a new tool for copyright holders that makes it even easier and faster to remove content they allege is unauthorised.

The tool is being tested with US broadcaster Fox and Major League Baseball (MLB) Advanced Media and will be expanded to include other verified copyright holders.

The new tool will allow copyright holders to digitally flag any user-posted video containing content that they own and allege is unauthorized. MySpace will promptly remove all videos flagged by a copyright holder. In addition, MySpace has implemented a proprietary system to block videos that are removed at the request of a copyright owner from being re-uploaded to the site by other users.

MySpace CEO and co-founder Chris DeWolfe says, “MySpace is firmly committed to protecting copyright holders’ rights. This is another important step we’re taking to ensure that those who create and own content are able to protect it.”

The new tool will allow MySpace to more efficiently implement its long-standing policy against users uploading third-party copyrighted material by automating the 'notice and take down' process that has been in existence since MySpace’s inception.

In compliance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, MySpace has enforced copyright protection through a traditional 'notice and takedown' process whereby copyright holders inform MySpace of infringing content and MySpace promptly removes it from the site. With the new tool, MySpace will make it even easier for copyright holders to identify and take down user-posted videos containing unauthorized content.

The announcement comes on the heels of MySpace’s landmark licensing deal with Gracenote, which implemented fingerprinting technology to help prevent unauthorised music from being posted by users to the site.