A company specializing in "digital media intelligence" has partnered with YouTube to serve as a third-party intermediary that will help the popular video sharing web site combat piracy... with a catch.
YouTube quickly evolved into the most popular video sharing web site on the Internet, but has had recent trouble with piracy issues due to copyrighted music videos and songs. To help combat rampant piracy, many record labels have created their own official YouTube channels, which let them distribute music videos and artist interviews directly to viewers.
"This is a significant development for our company as we continue to provide innovative solutions for copyright holders in the digital marketplace," said Sam Glines, Nexicon's VP of Strategy. "Content owners now have the ability to monetize their copyrighted digital media and products, and we are here to deliver these capabilities."
Nexicon will be responsible for looking at user activity on YouTube and matching users' uploads against a database of copyrighted material using the MARC (Monitor, Analyze, Report, and Collect) anti-piracy network. Some users will receive DMCA notices with the ability of settling online "in less than three clicks."
The new system will likely receive little support from YouTube users, but will be popular among copyright owners who have content published on YouTube. Similar to the controversial Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) online settlement, critics claim the Nexicon "Get Amnesty" program is nothing more than extortion, with Nexicon serving as the middle man. In fact, the Get Amnesty web site has several frequently asked questions (FAQs) that list why a user received a notice and why they should settle out of court.
The Nexicon service will be able to sift through billions of files shared through P2P networks and will offer instant payment of people illegally downloading music files via MasterCard, PayPal, Visa, and electronic checks.
The network "actually provides dollars in the pocket of the musicians a fair amount for the distribution channel that online peer-to-peer file sharing, etc.," Nexicon V.P. of strategy and planning Samuel Glines told ZDNet.
Music and video piracy continues to be a major thorn in the sides of the music and movie trade industries, with lawsuits against alleged file sharers proving to be virtually useless. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has previously estaimted that around 95 percent of all music is downloaded illegally.
