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Google not to sign Russia’s anti-piracy memo

Spokesperson: Google has long been cooperating with right holders under DMCA - this procedure allows for pre-trial removal of pirate videos from services at right holders’ request

MOSCOW, December 17 (Itar-Tass) - U.S. corporation Google, owner of the video-sharing web site YouTube, is not going to sign the Russian mass media watchdog’s memorandum of cooperation with rights holders for countering pirate videos, Google’s Svetlana Anurova told Itar-Tass.

“We are not going to sign it right now. We have long been cooperating with right holders under DMCA [Digital Millennium Copyright Act] - this procedure allows for pre-trial removal of pirate videos from our services at right holders’ request, if they have the documents,” Anurova said. She added YouTube was technically equipped with programmes to identify and block the content, and this function was available for online broadcasting.

Channel One, the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK), Mosfilm film studios, National Media Group, Russian Anti-Piracy Organization, the latter representing interests of foreign right holders, and others signed a memo Tuesday to cooperate in ensuring exclusive rights in using films. Web platforms like Mail.ru, Ivi.ru, Zoomby.ru, Rutube.ru and others joined the memo.

The document stipulates that by late March 2014 video-sharing sites will consider introduction of an identification system to block and prevent the posting of unlicensed videos. Right holders, on their side, will provide web platforms with available information about effective identification technologies and their producers’ and distributors’ contacts within a month after the signing. After examining the decisions, the sides will revisit negotiations of terms of introduction.

The memo’s appendix regulates pre-trial settling of disputable issues between web sites and right holders saying a video-sharing site is to block or delete content from the site at right holder’s request that should include complete information about the right holder, content and rights. Should the application state precise web addresses, the service is to remove the content within 24 hours. If no links are provided - “within reasonable time from the moment of applying”.