Broadcast News

Bookmark and Share
30/09/2013

Search Engines Facilitate Infringing Copyright

News Image
Internet search engines like Google and Yahoo play a significant role in introducing audiences to websites that infringe copyright laws to show films and TV shows online, according to a new study released by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).
MPAA Chairman Senator Chris Dodd joined representatives Howard Coble, Adam Schiff, Marsha Blackburn and Judy Chu on Capitol Hill last month to make the announcement.
"This study reaffirms the significant responsibility that search engines share with all of us in the Internet ecosystem to help prevent the theft of movies and TV shows online," he stated.
"Search engines bear responsibility for introducing people to infringing content -- even people who aren’t actively looking for it. The television and movie community is working every day to develop new and innovative ways to watch content online, and as the Internet’s gatekeepers, search engines share a responsibility to play a constructive role in not directing audiences to illegitimate content."
The study found that 74% of consumers use a search engine as a discovery or navigation tool in their initial viewing sessions on sites with infringing content, while audiences viewing infringing content for the first time online are over twice as likely to use a search engine in their navigation path as repeat visitors.
58% of queries that consumers use prior to viewing infringing content contain generic or title-specific keywords only, indicating that browsers can be directed to sites offering such content regardless of their initial intentions, the survey said.
It also found that the largest share of search queries that lead to infringing URLs (82%) came from the largest search engine, Google.
Overall, search engines influenced 20% of the sessions in which consumers accessed infringing TV or film content online between 2010 and 2012.
"For years, I have been making the case that responsible players in the Internet ecosystem – from payment processors to advertisers to ISPs – have a responsibility and a self-interest to take voluntary, good faith steps against rampant online piracy," said Adam Schiff.
"This study shows that there is much more that search engines must do when it comes to pointing consumers towards legal outlets. By supporting legitimate sites rather than illegal ones, everyone wins – content creators, the U.S. economy and consumers themselves."
"I applaud the MPAA for their efforts to address online piracy of movies and television shows," said Judy Chu.
"It is clear from this study that search engines play a key role in connecting consumers with infringed content, undercutting the ability of creators to receive pay for their work. Online infringement diminishes our economic competitiveness and costs us jobs. In fact, American workers and individual creators lose $16.3 billion in earnings annually to copyright piracy, with about 141,000 lost jobs in the motion picture industry alone. As co-chair of Creative Rights Caucus, I am committed to fighting online piracy to preserve and protect the creative community."
www.mpaa.org
(IT/CD)
Solidmate Ltd Memory Card Hire London

Top Related Stories
Click here for the latest broadcast news stories.

06/11/2023
Casablanca Online Chooses PlayBox Neo
PlayBox Neo has announced that Casablanca Online has chosen AirBox Neo-20 broadcast media management and playout servers and software for integration
26/10/2023
Online Gambling Platform Scores With Appear
Appear has been chosen by a premier online gambling platform in North America to deliver premium live sports content to millions of subscribers across
11/10/2023
Presentation Videos From IP Showcase On The Water Now Available Online
The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA), and the Video Services Forum (VSF), along with contributors Au
09/02/2024
Sky Brings Together Sky Content And Sky Studios
Sky has announced that all of its non-sports content teams in the UK & Ireland, will come together under one leadership structure, led by Cécile Frot-
13/03/2023
MwareTV Offers Complete Content Management And Delivery Service
MwareTV has joined in partnership with a US content provider to deliver a complete one-stop service for ISPs, multi-dwelling organisations and more in
03/04/2023
Telestream Content Manager™ To Be Unveiled At NAB 2023
At NAB 2023, on booth W1501, Telestream® has announced Telestream Content Manager™. The next-generation solution provides a single point of access for
28/03/2023
Interra Ssystems' BATON Captions Help Drive Globalisation Of Content
Interra Systems has announced that BATON Captions is helping drive the globalisation of content for broadcasters and other media professionals by offe
20/02/2023
Agile Content Unveils 2022 Year-End Forecast
Agile Content, a listed company and provider of Internet TV and broadcast solutions, has released its 2022 year-end forecast, maintaining its position
17/02/2006
Convera signs first commercial clients for Excalibur search technology
Convera Corporation, a leading provider of search technologies to commercial enterprises and government agencies, has signed its first commercial clie
30/11/2018
Pond5 Adds Color Similarity To Its Visual Search Tools
Pond5 has released the latest evolution of its industry-leading AI-powered Visual Search for video, with the addition of Color Similarity to its growi
08/03/2024
SipRadius To Show Its Transformative Approach To IP Content Transport
SipRadius is to show its transformative approach to IP content transport at NAB Show 2024 (as a FOR-A platform powered by SipRadius). The SipRadius so
05/03/2024
SipRadius To Show Transformative Approach To IP Content Transport
SipRadius is to show its transformative approach to IP content transport at NAB Show 2024 (as a FOR-A platform powered by SipRadius). The SipRadius so
04/09/2023
Agile Content To Present True Glass-To-Glass Media Production And Distribution Solutions
Agile Content is to return to the IBC show in Amsterdam where the leading provider of OTT digital TV and video distribution software will present its
01/09/2023
CueScript To Unveil Tools Needed For Broadcasters To More Easily Produce Content
At IBC 2023 (Stand 11.D10), CueScript is to showcase a range of tools needed for broadcasters to more easily produce content in the field. This includ
20/07/2023
Perifery's Jonathan Morgan To Speak At SVG Sports Content Management Forum
Perifery, a division of DataCore, has announced that Jonathan Morgan, the company's senior vice president of product and technology, will speak at the