DRM News

Posts Tagged ‘IP enforcement’

FBI being called upon to take on IP theft

June 24th, 2010

Cliff Riseborough

An idea drawn up by IP enforcement coordinator (yes, that is apparently a job) Victoria Espinel would see the FBI dedicate 50 full time agents to the job of investigating and taking on IP theft.

The group would look at both digital and physical piracy in the various sectors of the entertainment industry. At least one media group is happy with the proposal.

“We deeply appreciate the efforts of Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator Espinel and her leadership and vision in this critical area,” ESA CEO Michael D. Gallagher stated.

“We are grateful for Ms. Espinel’s hard work to date, and appreciate the extent to which she has consulted with a wide range of stakeholders, including our industry.

“We look forward to reviewing this plan, and to doing our part to help the US government succeed in its vital mission of protecting intellectual property.”

While I’m not sure dedicating an entire branch of a Federal law enforcement body is really necessary here (especially considering how much IP theft occurs internationally, where the FBI has no jurisdiction), at least this puts actual law enforcement in to the equation. And that beats having big entertainment companies trying to threaten settlements worth thousands of dollars out of people and acting as their own judge, jury and executioner.

(Thanks to MCV)

Posted in Miscellaneous

Tags: 50 agents, FBI, IP enforcement, IP theft

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Entertainment industry has some hard core plans for dealing with piracy

April 15th, 2010

Cliff Riseborough

The entertainment industry has sent a series of proposals to the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator at the request of the Coordinator. The reason for that request was to get some ideas of the industry’s viewpoint on intellectual property policing as work begins on forming the Joint Strategic Plan for IP enforcement.

Some of the ‘highlights’ of the industry submissions (thanks to the EFF for putting these up) include :

There are several technologies and methods that can be used by network administrators and providers…these include [consumer] tools for managing copyright infringement from the home (based on tools used to protect consumers from viruses and malware).

Oh boy! We all know how well installed content management DRM programs tend to run! And, is this software going to be determining what is and isn’t allowed on someone’s system? Is it HAL 9000? It would have to be to be able to make those determinations…and I don’t really want my home PC to start plotting to kill me.