» DMCA

Complaints Build After Facebook Takes Down Pages

Abby Johnson — Thu, 05 May 2011 19:41:05 +0000

Facebook is in the news again, and, unfortunately for it, not for a very good reason. The social network is being hammered after it took down pages for some reputable sites, including Ars Technica and Redmond Pie. Although Facebook did receive letters saying these sites were violating the DMCA, many people are speaking out against the process that Facebook uses to handle the claims.

WebProNews spoke, specifically, with Chester Wisniewski, the Senior Security Advisor at Sophos, about the matter. Sophos believes that Facebook needs to verify the people making the accusations and also notify the people that are being accused about what content they are infringing upon.

Wisniewski said, “a little bit of a validation process might go a long way.” Do you agree?

SES San Jose: Clarke Walton of Walton Law Firm on the DMCA

admin — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 21:10:14 +0000

Clarke Walton, attorney-at-law, took some time to talk with WebProNews after his Copyrights and Trademarks session at the SES conference in San Jose. Walton spoke with WebProNews about the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the process of a ‘Take Down Notice.’ For all the details, check out WebProNews.

Google gives response to Viacom's side of the story

admin — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 14:14:53 +0000

The Viacom lawsuit against Google over YouTube has started playing out in the court of public opinion. Just a few days after Viacom attorney Michael Fricklas gave Viacom’s side of the story in an op-ed letter to The Washington Post, Google lawyer Michael Kwun responded with the search engine’s opinion of Viacom’s action.

Kwun commented on Viacom and its role under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Viacom has accused YouTube and Google of massive copyright infringement. Kwun said, “Viacom’s lawyers helped craft this law but apparently don’t like it, after all. They want to shirk the responsibility Congress gave them.” Under the DMCA, Viacom is required to notify YouTube to request removal of infringing content. Google thinks Viacom is trying to rewrite copyright law with their legal action.

FCC looks at BroadBand, Ask has Formula, and InfoWorld Quits Print

admin — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 14:02:49 +0000

The FCC plans to look into the business practices of broadband Internet providers. Their notice of inquiry should begin another round of debate on ‘net neutrality’, and whether big providers like AT&T or Comcast can charge additional fees to businesses for a higher level of service. The FCC has been considering whether or not the industry needs more regulation to protect consumers.

Ask.com product manager Ryan Massie thinks his company has the formula for success when it comes to the local search market. Massie told attendees at the Kelsey Group’s ‘Drilling Down on Local’ conference, “When someone comes to that search box and we give them exactly what we want–the right result, the right content, take them to the right page–they’re going to come back. That’s success.” Ask launched their local search product, Ask City, earlier this year.

Long running technology journal InfoWorld will come to an end in the world of print. Publisher IDG will focus on InfoWorld’s online version as well as events they will host. InfoWorld.com vice president Virginia Hines said on the site the move would, “remove the distraction of maintaining and fretting over a costly, nearly obsolete distribution channel.” The print version ends in April.

Viacom general counsel Michael Fricklas said YouTube is not protected by the DMCA when it comes to copyright infringement. Fricklas said in a Washington Post op-ed piece that DMCA safe harbor provisions are “not available to someone who ‘derives a financial benefit’ from copyrighted material he stores if he has the “right and ability to control” it.” Viacom is suing YouTube and Google for one billion dollars over infringement.