If you host a website that invites the public to submit content, often called UGC (or User Generated Content), you may want to read the recent summary judgment decision in Arista Records LLC v. Myxer Inc. and stay tuned to the final outcome at trial. Website hosts that allow UGC run the risk of being sued for copyright infringement, among other claims, because users sometimes submit material whose copyright belongs to someone else. If a copyright owner sues you for copyright infringement in your role as a website host, one of the most common defenses asserted is that the web hosting is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act).
On April 1, 2011, a federal court in California issued the above decision in a case pitting content owners against website hosts. UMG Records and other music companies sued Myxer and its principals for copyright infringement because Myxer hosts a website that invites the public to upload music and then download it as ring tones on cell phones. Myxer doesn't pay UMG anything, and UMG argues that it loses money every time a ring tone is downloaded through Myxer.
Myxer asserted two primary defenses: that its use was fair use and that it was protected by the DMCA's "safe harbors." On summary judgment, the court rejected Myxer's fair use defense, finding that converting the songs into ring tones did not qualify as a "transformative" use and finding that Myxer's business model likely cut into UMG's market.
But the court kept alive Myxer's DMCA defense. It found that genuine issues of fact existed regarding Myxer's implementation of a DMCA policy and regarding the speed with which it removed allegedly infringing material. Now it will be up to Myxer to prevail on this defense at trial.
Just like Myxer is hoping to do, businesses that allow the public to post content on their websites may limit their liability against copyright infringement lawsuits by following some steps under the DMCA. As a ground rule, if you create or direct content on your website that infringes on another's copyright, you can't turn to the DMCA for help. But if all you do is host content created by others, to get the benefits of DMCA protection you need to (1) adopt a DMCA policy and communicate it to your users, (2) appoint a DMCA agent, (3) follow the DMCA steps of quickly responding to accusations of hosting material that infringes another's copyright, (4) permanently remove repeat infringers, and (5) receive no financial benefit directly attributable to any infringing activity on your site.
To read more about how to protect your business under the DMCA, check out this great resource from the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation), or contact an attorney with experience in copyrights and intellectual property law.
On April 1, 2011, a federal court in California issued the above decision in a case pitting content owners against website hosts. UMG Records and other music companies sued Myxer and its principals for copyright infringement because Myxer hosts a website that invites the public to upload music and then download it as ring tones on cell phones. Myxer doesn't pay UMG anything, and UMG argues that it loses money every time a ring tone is downloaded through Myxer.
Myxer asserted two primary defenses: that its use was fair use and that it was protected by the DMCA's "safe harbors." On summary judgment, the court rejected Myxer's fair use defense, finding that converting the songs into ring tones did not qualify as a "transformative" use and finding that Myxer's business model likely cut into UMG's market.
But the court kept alive Myxer's DMCA defense. It found that genuine issues of fact existed regarding Myxer's implementation of a DMCA policy and regarding the speed with which it removed allegedly infringing material. Now it will be up to Myxer to prevail on this defense at trial.
Just like Myxer is hoping to do, businesses that allow the public to post content on their websites may limit their liability against copyright infringement lawsuits by following some steps under the DMCA. As a ground rule, if you create or direct content on your website that infringes on another's copyright, you can't turn to the DMCA for help. But if all you do is host content created by others, to get the benefits of DMCA protection you need to (1) adopt a DMCA policy and communicate it to your users, (2) appoint a DMCA agent, (3) follow the DMCA steps of quickly responding to accusations of hosting material that infringes another's copyright, (4) permanently remove repeat infringers, and (5) receive no financial benefit directly attributable to any infringing activity on your site.
To read more about how to protect your business under the DMCA, check out this great resource from the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation), or contact an attorney with experience in copyrights and intellectual property law.
What do you think of this kind of copyright infringement? I'm assuming this is pretty standard: http://johndeutsch.blogspot.com/2011/05/empire-essentials-marketing-following.html
ReplyDeleteThanks for this information because I am starting up a website and was curious about copyright infringement regarding music and stuff like that. I also see the law firm you work for specializes in Intellectual Property Law , I was curious where I could find more information on your firm and your policies,thanks in advance.
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