. Medical and Hospital News .




.
INTERNET SPACE
ISPs, movie, music, TV groups in copyright deal
by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) July 7, 2011

Major US Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and music, movie and television industry associations unveiled a long-awaited agreement on Thursday aimed at curbing online copyright infringement.

The Copyright Alert System calls for ISPs to send a series of email notices to Internet subscribers whose accounts have been identified by content owners as illegally downloading music, movies or television shows.

After five notices, subscribers could be subject to "mitigation measures" by an ISP, including temporarily reducing their Internet speed or redirecting their account to a landing page with information about copyright infringement.

The voluntary agreement does not oblige the ISPs to take punitive action, however, which they have been reluctant to do in the absence of a court order.

ISPs will not provide customers' names to rights owners and subscribers can seek an "independent review," at a cost of $35, to determine the validity of an infringement claim.

The Center for Copyright Information, a new group founded by the ISPs and entertainment associations, stressed that the alert system "does not, in any circumstance, require the ISP to terminate an Internet subscriber's account."

But digital rights groups Public Knowledge and The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) warned that it "lists Internet account suspension among the possible remedies" to copyright infringement.

"Today's agreement has the potential to be an important educational vehicle that will help reduce online copyright infringement," Public Knowledge and the CDT said in a joint statement.

"A voluntary, notification-centric approach can sidestep many of the serious concerns that would be raised by government mandates, the adoption of new snooping or filtering technologies, or a draconian 'three strikes' approach centered on disconnecting Internet users," they said.

"But whether the agreement will meet its educational promise or instead will undermine the rights of Internet users will depend on how it is implemented," they said.

"We believe it would be wrong for any ISP to cut off subscribers, even temporarily, based on allegations that have not been tested in court."

Participating ISPs will begin sending out copyright alerts later this year and next year.

AT&T, Cablevision, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Verizon signed on to the agreement along with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) and the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM).

US ISPs already forward copyright violation notifications from content owners to subscribers but the new agreement standardizes the practice.

The Center for Copyright Information and supporters said the escalating notification system will help reduce online copyright violations.

"We are confident that, once informed that content theft is taking place on their accounts, the great majority of broadband subscribers will take steps to stop it," said James Assey, executive vice president of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA).

RIAA president Cary Sherman said the "groundbreaking" agreement ushers in a "fresh approach to addressing the digital theft of copyrighted works.

Verizon general counsel Randal Milch described the agreement as "a sensible approach to the problem of online-content theft and, importantly, one that respects the privacy and rights of our subscribers."

The Obama administration welcomed the agreement.

"The administration is committed to reducing infringement of American intellectual property as part of our ongoing commitment to support jobs, increase exports and maintain our global competitiveness," said Victoria Espinel, the US Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator.

"The joining of Internet service providers and entertainment companies in a cooperative effort to combat online infringement can further this goal and we commend them for reaching this agreement," Espinel said. "We believe it will have a significant impact on reducing online piracy."




Related Links
Satellite-based Internet technologies

.
Get Our Free Newsletters Via Email
...
Buy Advertising Editorial Enquiries


US telecom titan Verizon drops unlimited data plans
San Francisco (AFP) July 7, 2011 - The leading provider of service for smartphones in the United States on Thursday stopped offering new customers "all-you-can-eat" data plans.

Verizon Wireless joined AT&T and T-Mobile USA in a shift away from plans that allow smartphone or tablet computer users to stream unlimited amounts of digital data for fixed prices.

As modern lifestyles increasing involved using wireless gadgets to access videos, pictures, maps, and other data on the internet, companies handling that traffic are asking people to pay monthly based on quantity.

Verizon customers who already have unlimited wireless data plans were able to keep them, but no new accounts are available.

The move by Verizon came as mobile industry tracker Localytics released a study indicating that the telecom service is used by nearly a third of all iPhone 4 smartphones in the United States.

The trend toward metering wireless data use also comes as US carriers invest in new-generation networks that promise huge advances in data speeds.

In February, Verizon gave itself the option to slow wireless data feeds to customers gorging on rich digital content streamed to smartphones or tablet computers.

Implementation of the new "network management" tactic came a week before the eagerly anticipated addition of the iPhone 4 to the cornucopia of devices serviced by Verizon.

Apple's exclusive alliance with AT&T in the United States ended in February when iPhones synched to Verizon's network hit the market.





. Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle



INTERNET SPACE
US judge unimpressed with Apple "App Store" claim
Washington (AFP) July 6, 2011
A federal judge on Wednesday denied a bid by Apple to immediately stop Amazon.com from calling its online shop for smartphone programs an "App Store." US District Court Judge Phyllis Hamilton didn't buy Apple's argument that the phrase "App Store" was tantamount to a trademark, which it has applied for. She ruled that Apple has not established that its "App Store" mark is famous in the s ... read more


INTERNET SPACE
Japan groups alarmed by radioactive soil

Japan minister quits over gaffe in fresh blow to PM

Passer-by saves China toddler in 10-storey fall

Japan names more Fukushima evacuation areas

INTERNET SPACE
AI Solutions to Assist Air Force with GPS Satellite Positioning Data and Analyzing GPS Anomalies

GPS IIIB Satellites to Add Critical New Capabilities

Astrium awarded Galileo Full Operational Capability Ground Control Segment Contract

House Committee Acts to Halt LightSquared Proposal Until GPS Interference Issues Resolved

INTERNET SPACE
Australia moves on head-covering laws

Clues to why 'they' all look alike

Finding showing human ancestor older than previously thought offers new insights into evolution

Fertility rates affected by global economic crisis

INTERNET SPACE
Swazis question rangers' special powers in poaching battle

Mutations help organisms become kings of the mountain

Nearly 200 rhinos killed this year in South Africa: WWF

Sea urchins see with their whole body

INTERNET SPACE
India PM hails success in battle against HIV

New rapid test tells difference between bacterial and viral infections

MSF warns of cholera epidemic in DR Congo

Hong Kong confirms second scarlet fever death

INTERNET SPACE
Red Cross controversy threatens China philanthropy

Amnesty slams China over Xinjiang, two years after riots

Radiohead tests China's tightly controlled web

China's frustrated migrant workers rise up

INTERNET SPACE
Denmark to hand over 24 pirates to Kenya for trial

Chinese ship released by pirates: EU

South Korea jails Somali pirates

US Navy recruits gamers to help in piracy strategy

INTERNET SPACE
Australian cities among world's most expensive: survey

China inflation accelerates to 6.4%

Outside View: A disappointing jobs report

Lagarde says debt among IMF top concerns


Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily Express :: SpaceWar Express :: TerraDaily Express :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News
.

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2011 - Space Media Network. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement