Copyright Enforcement Group LLC
Copyright Enforcement Group – How can film producers deal with copyright infringement online?
Film production is a matter of huge monetary investment and risk. After making such a huge investment, the last thing that producers and directors want is to lose a large portion of revenue due to copyright infringement online. However, malpractices like trading movies over Peer to Peer Networks, downloading films from unauthorized sites, copying and misusing clippings without any compensation to the owner and others are very much thriving in recent times. Although most producers and directors want to take steps against copyright infringement, the biggest dilemma for them is to track down infringements and finding a reliable method for enforcement and protection.
Subscribing to protection and monetization services from intellectual property protection firms is one of the most sensible ways to deal with such a situation. The Copyright Enforcement Group is a good example of such a firm that works with film producers and directors to protect their intellectual assets from online copyright infringements. Copyright Enforcement Group’s out-of-the-box monitoring and protections services include User Generate Websites, Websites, and P2P Networks.
This acclaimed intellectual property protection firm utilizes web crawlers and the latest recognition technologies to constantly monitor infringements across websites and multiple peer-to-peer protocols. Thus, whenever an infringement occurs, the automated system collects evidence and humans authenticate it. CEG’s worldwide infrastructure makes it nearly impossible for an infringement to go unnoticed when a film producer or director work is under the cover of CEG’s monitoring services.
Another benefit with the Copyright Enforcement Group is that it can help copyright owners considerably in settling claims with infringers. It, along with its settlement portal CopyrightSettlements.com, offers infringers easy pre-settlement terms. As per those terms, infringers can pay a small one-time fee to get unconditional release from all liabilities. Moreover, the Copyright Enforcement Group also helps infringers to protect their privacy and to avoid huge expense of litigation. Thus, in most cases, infringers pay a compensation fee and settle the issue with producers and directors under reasonable terms. Needless to say; this is also a great way for producers to recover revenues that would have been otherwise lost due to copyright infringements.
CEG TEK – Grammys Lead to Increased Piracy
The 55th annual Grammy Awards were held this month in downtown Los Angeles, and the show continues to be one of the most important and influential industry awards out there. The music awards, which are handed out in dozens of categories, have an enormous impact on record sales and media attention towards certain artists. New acts are often featured alongside industry legends, introducing both types of acts to a new audience that may be largely unfamiliar. Even a single Grammy nomination can be an enormous boon and have a lasting impact on that artist’s career for years to come. Nowhere is this ‘Grammy boost’ more apparent than the world of online file exchanges, which have record traffic immediately following these types of awards.
Unfortunately not all of these exchanges are legal; torrent websites and file sharing account for a huge cut in an artist’s potential income, with certain popular titles being download thousands, or even millions of times without a cent going to the registered trademark holders. Adele’s ’21’ is one of the most popular albums of the past decade, but it is estimated that millions of copies went unsold due to the title’s ubiquitous presence on popular file-sharing sites like The Pirate Bay. History has proven that few record labels are able to tackle the challenge of registered trademark and copyright protection properly. Overnight unknown bands become household names through a Grammy performance, and in many cases those content owners are completely unprepared for the hype and interest generated. This makes it even more imperative that specialists are looked at for the protection of this content.
Copyright Enforcement Group (CEG-TEK INTL.) is one business offering protection against the infringement of registered trademarks and copyrights online. Congress passed the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) several years ago, making the tracking of file exchanges online legal, and once those exchanges are registered and logged it becomes possible for CEG to generate solutions. Their automated software can track these exchanges, generating important business intelligence for content owners about who might be sharing their product. CEG TEK has become a formidable and reputable brand. For the first time in a decade the music industry has tools available to them to properly protect their investments. The monetization of copyright infringements (which includes takedown notices) is finally possible, which should ultimately help combat this problem in a meaningful way for the first time.
Awards are a celebration of craft, with skilled recording artists, engineers, publicists, and countless others working behind the scenes to produce a hit. Piracy poses a huge problem for those who hold the rights to audio, video, images, logos and data because it has become enormously simple to share those files online in recent years. Few industries have changed more radically by new technology than music, which has been unable to find a worthwhile method to the recovery of lost income due to copyright infringement. In order to keep the record industry’s infrastructure intact it is increasingly necessary to work with copyright enforcement businesses such as CEG.
CEG – House of Cards,’ Piracy, and Netflix
This past week has seen the premiere of the first season of ‘House of Cards,’ an American remake of the popular British political drama made exclusively for Netflix. This is the first of several new programs created specifically for the content platform, which in recent years has seen a lukewarm response from Hollywood to properly embrace it, and is seen as the first steps towards bringing new original programming comparable to television and feature films online. Web-exclusive programs are extremely popular on video sites like YouTube but usually reserved short subjects. ‘House of Cards’ aims to bring long-form programming to the online world, hoping to compete with heavyweights like HBO and Showtime for critical and commercial success.
‘House of Cards’ is unorthodox in that it defies several longstanding television conventions: There are no act breaks to pause for commercials, episodes vary wildly in terms of length, and the series is only available streaming online. Without an option to download or record the show it has advantages to more conventional movies and television series which can be recorded, uploaded to a server, and shared with online users across the globe. It remains to be seen how much this one difference will impact piracy of the series, but as the show is only accessible via a Netflix subscription it’s expected to generate interest from torrent sites like Pirate Bay. ‘Game of Thrones’ is one other series that is only available via a subscription (to HBO) and suffers from widespread copyright abuse. Although ‘House of Cards’ is a remake of a popular British series it has little name recognition in the United States. While ‘Game of Thrones’ was able to build on the success of the bestselling novels any piracy could seriously hurt the longevity of any Netflix-exclusive programming.
If Netflix hopes to generate a new brand in content production they will need to go to great lengths to protect themselves from infringements of their registered trademarks and copyrights. One business offering solutions, as well as the monetization and recovery of lost income due to piracy is Copyright Enforcement Group (CEG-TEK INTL.)
Congress passed the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) in 1996, allowing for the tracking of file exchanges online. This means that any audio, images, logos, or any type of data can be monitored as it’s being exchanged. CEG uses some of the most sophisticated software available to generate the kind of business intelligence that is important to content owners. CEG TEK registers each infringement in their enormous database, checking each individual IP address against their records to single out repeat offenders. From there takedown notices might be sent out, often resulting in settlement offers or in (extreme cases) legal action. Although it is impossible to track every case of piracy Copyright Enforcement Group boasts an impressive track record and is firmly established as an industry leader. It remains imperative that Netflix firmly embrace copyright enforcement technologies before they risk becoming as outdated as television networks it hopes to replace.
CEG-TEK – Associated Press in Copyright Battle with Clipping Service
Despite setbacks created by the internet newspapers remain an important and widely shared source of information for people the world over. Even with print circulation dropping more people are accessing newspaper content than ever thanks to social media. Unfortunately, many of these shared articles are being done so without the consent or knowledge of the publications who originally created them. Currently the Associated Press is in a legal battle with Meltwater Group, which compiles links and article headlines throughout the internet for subscribers. AP feels that this cuts into their own subscriber-based model, and that it risks losing the ability to monetize their own content. This sampling or ‘clipping’ of content is only one of countless cases of intellectual property being edited and compiled without the approval of the original copyright or registered trademark holders. Audio and video files are especially prone to this on YouTube, where aspiring DJs and film editors compile mixes of existing content without properly attributing that content to its rightful owners.
Sophisticated technology or extreme vigilance are required to properly catalog and register these types of infringement. While not as direct as simply sharing a movie or music online this ‘clipping’ is detrimental to brands and hurts the bottom lines of companies everywhere. Even major recording artists have been accused of illegally sampling their peers music for their own tracks. Before this was isolated to record producers but as recording equipment becomes more affordable now anyone is capable of doing the same thing from the comfort of their home. Copyright enforcement groups are working on solutions to this growing problem, but only CEG-TEK INTL. has the sophisticated tracking software necessary to do it effectively.
CEG compiles data in compliance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and generated valuable business intelligence in the process. This tracking of infringements allows content owners to better understand the severity of piracy online as well as informing them about the types of people who pirate it. This knowledge is extremely valuable as it shines light on who is interested in their content but unwilling to pay for it. Progressive business models and payment methods are a modern necessity for content owners whether it be a pay-as-you-go method or finding new ways to incentivize the purchase. CEG-TEK can alongside businesses to come up with diverse solutions to fit any content company’s needs. In extreme cases of copyright abuse takedown notices and legal action can be pursued, as evidenced by the Associated Press and their current battle against Meltwater Group.
In many cases this ‘clipping’ is almost flattering. Andy Warhol is a famous ‘clipper’ who took basic images and logos and transformed them into iconic pop art. This helped to embed brands like Campbell’s Soup deeper into the American consciousness and actually increased sales of the food overall. However, this type of action cannot go unchecked. In the future content owners need to be more open to the use and interpretation of their works, as the internet has empowered consumers by giving them access to the entire world’s media.
CEG TEK – Oz The Great and Powerful’ Creates Copyright Confusion
‘Oz The Great and Powerful,’ a new Disney film prequel to classic ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ book has become the first blockbuster movie of 2013. Featuring James Franco as a young stage magician mistaken for being a powerful wizard, opened to huge numbers on its opening weekend and work has already begun on the sequel. ‘Oz’ is an American classic and has been cemented into the public consciousness thanks in large part to the popularity of the classic MGM musical starring Judy Garland.
However, during production of the film great effort was taken by its producers to avoid any confusion between this new ‘Oz’ and its predecessors. Images, video, audio, logos, and even dialogue from the MGM film had to be avoided at all cost as the rights holders are fiercely protective of their copyright. Still, the original book which inspired it has been in the public domain for decades, created a tightrope walk for producers of the most recent film adaptation. Many recognizable Oz characters are absent from the new film in place of original creations that Disney could establish proper ownership of, and even the color of the Wicked Witch of the West’s skin had to be altered so as not to mimic Margaret Hamilton’s green-skinned Wicked Witch too closely.
Older stage and literary works such as ‘Alice in Wonderland’ or ‘Oz’ have been public domain for decades, leading to countless reprinting and adaptations over the years. These new incarnations are fair game for anyone to produce legally, but some of their better-known adaptations are still protected under copyright law. As such creating an ‘Oz’ film involves difficult decisions over which elements can be re-featured or modified and which must be shelved for fear of infringing on existing registered trademarks.
In some cases these concerns are valid. MGM has closely guarded their ‘Oz’ brand and its iconography for decades. Many moviegoers are unaware of the fact that several of the most famous elements from ‘Oz’ (such as the ruby slippers) are inventions of the film and not part of the public domain. When Disney made ‘Return to Oz’ in the 1980’s they had to spend a great deal of money to license the rights to the ruby slippers despite the rest of the film clearly trying to distance itself from the musical.
As a way to protect content from online sharing many businesses are looking to copyright enforcement companies such as CEG TEK INTL to provide new solutions to this growing problem of piracy. Copyright Enforcement Group (CEG) uses powerful software for the tracking of infringements. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) enables CEG to trace these downloads back to an individual computer, and from there takedown notices or settlement offers can be arranged.
Some companies choose not to prosecute users with an eye towards monetization, but others prefer to use the tracking software as a way to generate business intelligence about who is using their content. CEG TEK has a sterling reputation within the copyright enforcement world, and their recent technological advances have guaranteed that they will remain an industry leader for years to come.
Copyright Enforcement Group – Superman Copyright Claims Settled by Higher Court
After decades of legal battles between Warner Brothers and the estates of Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel a judge has finally made a definitive ruling regarding the copyright to Superman. A previous ruling made by a U.S. district court judge in January was upheld recently after the Siegel estate had argued that it was able to reclaim Superman’s registered trademarks and copyrights through the ‘termination rights’ of the Copyright Act. The Shuster estate had since dropped its claim to Superman’s rights after a prolonged and difficult legal battle that had been percolating for many years.
Superman was first created in 1938 by Shuster & Siegel for DC Comics and became an iconic American hero almost overnight. Unable to foresee Superman’s enduring popularity the two creators signed away their ownership of the character for a few hundred dollars, a pittance compared to the billions of dollars the superhero has earned DC Comics and its parent company Warner Brothers. Millions of Superman comic books were sold every week and a wildly successful Superman radio show soon followed. Shuster & Siegel continued making Superman comics for several years, receiving some notoriety for their work but virtually no part of the character’s earnings. The two creators lived in poverty and obscurity for decades even as the Superman television series starring George Reeves became a global phenomenon.
Finally public shaming of DC Comics surrounding the release of the Christopher Reeves Superman film resulted in the publisher offering a pension to the aging creators if they would sign away any remaining rights they might have had over the property. It is only through this deal that Shuster & Siegel’s names are credited as creators on any new production featuring their iconic hero. Both Shuster & Siegel passed away in the 1990’s, and their estates began the process of contesting DC’s ownership of the characters. Given the sheer amount of video, audio, images, logos, video games and merchandise featuring Superman this would mean dozens of smaller lawsuits, often with contradictory verdicts. More rights have been guaranteed to the estates of the original creators, but nearly every verdict has remained favorable to Warner Brothers.
Superman remains one of the most popular and well-known figures throughout the entire world and as a result copyright infringements are extremely common. Unlicensed Superman merchandise alone generates millions of dollars in revenue, and piracy of Superman media also accounts for a large loss of potential monetization for both Warner Brothers and the Shuster & Siegel estates. Proper enforcement of these copyrights can be difficult with such a large brand, but companies such as Copyright Enforcement Group (CEG-TEK INTL.) are able to provide meaningful solutions and potential revenue recovery.
As a new Superman feature film is ready to hit theatres Warner Brothers can breathe a sigh of relief that their days fighting with the Shuster & Siegel estates is finally over. Still, it will be imperative that they continue to protect Superman’s image from piracy and infringements for years to come. CEG has sophisticated tracking software facilitated by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) that helps generated worthwhile business intelligence for the content owner. CEG-TEK is a global leader in copyright enforcement.
CEG TEK – Universities Abandon Access Copyright
Access Copyright, a service that makes copyrighted materials available to university students, has been dropped by several prominent schools in the wake of rising costs. As a result Access Copyright has taken Toronto’s York University to court for improperly reproducing materials once made available through their service. In addition, Access Copyright has also filed two applications with the Copyright Board of Canada, which would require all of its schools and universities to pay fees for access to their libraries, even if they aren’t being used. This is only the latest in a string of reorganization and restructuring as higher education continues to adapt to new technologies and the digital age.
The fees for Access Copyright annually come down to about 26 dollars annually per student, which cumulatively would be millions upon millions of dollars. Academic research is held to a high standard worldwide, and the expense at cataloguing and producing these materials is enormous. As a result schools are traditionally charged for access to this information. The internet has continued to grow, so traditional sources of academic research have been threatened by similar materials that are available freely online.
Copyright enforcement online is generally focused on audio, video, images, logos and basic data, but there is still an enormous amount of piracy online for major textbooks and academic materials. Everything from scientific journals to statistical data is being duplicated and shared online without the knowledge or approval of the content holder. These files are more popular in many ways than even videos, which makes it even harder to verify the identity of the files when they are being shared online in a sea of data. Infringement of registered trademarks and copyrights is commonplace and software developers are losing a huge amount of their income due to piracy. Copyright Enforcement Group (CEG TEK INTL) remains one of the few companies that is able to secure the protection and tracking of complicated software programs online.
While it’s true that there is a wealth of properly cited and researched data online much of it is seen as unfit for the collegiate world. Still, the push away from traditional sources of information has impacted those whose livelihoods are dependent on academic research, including textbook manufacturers. Textbooks are even more likely to pirated online than audio and video files. As the price of these books continues to rise more and more students are looking to the internet as a free and easy way to get these copyrighted materials for their own use. Traditionally these types of materials have relied on strict copyright enforcement to secure their long-term economic feasibility.
CEG TEK generates meaningful business intelligence that gives companies some recovery and monetization due to their lost income. CEG works in accordance with the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) and uses takedown notices to help remove infringing content from the internet. As time goes on protecting trademarks is becoming increasingly important in establishing a brand, and it seems that few companies are able to match the technological capabilities CEG has developed over the years. Regardless of the type of digital content, CEG should be the first choice for any content owner trying to protect their work online.
CEG TEK – Indonesia Music Industry Cites $1.65 Million Daily Loss as Piracy-related
Citing figures from the Indonesian Record Industry Association (AIRI) The Jakarta Post has reported that online piracy has completely decimated their homegrown music industry. The internet-savvy nation has a large consumer base that has quickly adapted to receiving content digitally, and in a few short years record stores have completely faded away. Digital distribution is now the primary way music is purchased in Indonesia, but in many cases this is done through illegal file-sharing and copyright infringement. More than 6 million people download music illegally from popular file-sharing sites such as The Pirate Bay, and it is estimated the astonishing economic losses equal roughly $1.65 million dollars daily.
This is a major blow to Indonesian pop music, which had dominated the charts throughout Asian for years. These financial losses are staggering, and threaten to kill off Indonesia’s music industry entirely. What’s more, some believe that this is the first sign of a larger problem facing music distribution. Despite many efforts to combat online piracy the rate at which music file-sharing continues to increase across the globe, and Indonesia’s musical collapse could be the first of many that will eventually suffer.
Audio, video, data, images, logos, and just about anything can be download from the internet these days and many young people are often doing it in violation of existing copyright laws. Copyright Enforcement Group is a growing leader in the field of copyright enforcement and have a dedicated team working towards the monetization of lost income due to internet piracy. CEG also offer data protection, tracking, and business intelligence services. As time goes on the need for more comprehensive solutions is needed and CEG TEK is the best option available to both established and emerging businesses.
Economic stagnation will ultimately result from the complicated piracy situation in Indonesia. Even worse, the nation has a notoriously difficult copyright and patent system, which makes copyright enforcement that much more difficult. In fact, it can take as long as 18 months to be granted a patent or copyright by the government in that country. This means that newly released music might be leaked and spread online a year before the content owner is able to assert their ownership over it in court, which is a terrifying prospect. In the United States the process is relatively expedited, but content producers in America feel strongly that more can be done to protect the investment and time put forth by artists to create their art.
CEG TEK INTL offers low-cost registration for these services and many more, which include takedown notices and settlement offers in accordance with the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act.) They have proven time and again that they are a reliable brand in the emerging new area of copyright enforcement.
Solutions are needed to combat piracy, but also to make it easier to protect a copyright and patent in Indonesia. There will always be some backlash in enforcing laws such as this, but CEG has the benefit of a comprehensive legal team and a young, energetic staff ready to handle today and tomorrow’s challenges.
Copyright Enforcement Group – American Film Industry Negotiating Copyright Treaty for the Blind
This week in Marrakech representatives from over 180 nations are working on an international treaty that will make copyrighted materials more freely available to the world’s blind and visually impaired. The proposed treaty has received the ire of Hollywood, which remains skeptical of the value of reducing copyrights at a time when online piracy and copyright infringement are on the rise. Other international corporate interests have also been deeply involved in these discussions, pressuring lawmakers to tighten restrictions on intellectual property rather than loosen them.
Since 2008 the World Intellectual Property Organization has worked to reduce copyright restrictions on published works as a way to help the blind, as over 90% of them live in the global south. Many blind or visually impaired people live in abject poverty and do not have access to popular media or information in the same way sighted people do. Part of WIPO’s proposed treaty would involve opening up new distribution networks across the globe so that copyrighted materials may be used for educational purposes as well as entertainment.
This treaty came as a result of the prosecution of teachers of the blind distributing copyrighted material that they had converted into Braille or audio recordings of popular books. The controversy surrounding this has been felt across the globe, and as a result this treaty has become a priority for many in the third-world where resources for the visually handicapped are not readily available.
Concerns have been raised about this treaty leading to a rise in piracy across the globe. Copyright Enforcement Group (CEG-TEK INTL.) offers a variety of ethical solutions for securing all types of data online. In accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) CEG TEK can track file exchanges with unparalleled accuracy and speed. After an infringement is registered by CEG-TEK’s advanced tracking software a takedown notice is sent over to the ISP hosting it. On occasions when the takedown notice does not convince the infringer to remove their files online then a settlement offer is filed. Only in the most extreme cases does copyright abuse result in massive fines and even legal proceedings. The goal is to find a more ethical and fair system to pursue copyright violators.
The motion picture academy, movie studios, and television networks must take the necessary steps in presenting their programming to the widest audience possible, in the most secure way possible. Today fans can access their favorite content quicker than ever, and in most cases the piracy risk is outweighed by the potential for massive sales. It is very important to make sure that these games are being accessed through legitimate venues rather than illegal ones. Much of that responsibility lies with the original content owners, as ignoring new technologies historically hurts a business in the long run.
It remains to be seen what effect, if any, this proposed treaty will have on internet traffic and file exchanges. This is another aggressive step by Hollywood to protect their content and business models in the face of the digital revolution going forward.
CEG TEK – BuzzFeed Under Fire for Copyright Infringement
BuzzFeed, the ubiquitous pop-culture website known for flashy headlines and ‘link-bait,’ has found itself under fire from an Idaho-based photographer who claims that BuzzFeed used one of his private Flickr collections. The complaint was filed on June 7th in the Southern District of New York claiming that BuzzFeed knowingly infringed on his copyright when the photograph was posted as part of an article title ‘The 30 Funniest Header Faces.’ Fair Use, and the distinction between which images may be shared freely and which ones may not is a cornerstone of intellectual property law and is becoming more and more an important issue as websites profit from content they may not have the rights to use.
Fair Use is a complicated area of copyright law, and judges have shown great restraint in prosecuting websites or individuals claiming Fair Use when charged with copyright infringement. The most compelling argument against BuzzFeed was that many of their photographs are posted without proper attribution or credit towards the photographer. The photographer in question hopes to receive $3.6 million from BuzzFeed for damages, an amount that could seriously harm the site and set a dangerous precedent for future infringement claims.
This recent lawsuit is added to the growing concern over copyright enforcement online, specifically in regards to file-sharing and torrent websites such as The Pirate Bay. One of the most important and trusted brands in copyright protection is a company by the name of Copyright Enforcement Group. They work tirelessly towards the monetization of lost income due to online piracy, which impacts everyone from business owners to struggling musical artists. Still, there can be some value to spread audio, video, images and data online through file-sharing networks, even if in most cases it violates an existing registered trademark. This can lead to valuable exposure for emerging works, but there are few guarantees for a recover of lost income when online file-sharing is enormously widespread and difficult to track. Still, there are companies like CEG TEK INTL that have the resources to successfully track internet traffic, generating valuable business intelligence.
This tracking software is perfectly legal and in accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). From there a takedown notice may be sent to prevent the infringing material from being shared anymore. Even something as small as a logo can be spread online illegally, which risks devaluing a brand irreparably? It is only through the adoption of new technologies and solutions that CEG TEK has been able to win over content owners worldwide. A simple phone call and registration are all that keeps content owners of all kinds from protecting their futures. It is easy for individuals to try and cash in on the controversy of torrent sites, but it’s also important for businesses remain progressive and open to changing delivery methods for their content.
BuzzFeed and similar sites need to establish a more straightforward system when using photography or art they do not claim the rights to. Also, content owners need adequate protection to secure their resources, and ensure that each project yields as high a profit as possible. By selection an appropriate partner to help with copyright protection both businesses can make a lasting partnership that benefits both for the foreseeable future.
Copyright Enforcement Group – Hip Hop Icons Public Enemy Release Single on BitTorrent
Public Enemy, the acclaimed hip hop group has begun a campaign with BitTorrent that encourages fans to remix their latest single ‘Get Up Stand Up’ in hopes of getting the song distributed. They hope to generate interest in their newest LP among BitTorrent’s 170 million users through this contest and also through their new BitTorrent ‘Bundles,’ a new multi-media format that will include music videos, outtakes, and alternate recordings of their popular songs. From there users can remix ‘Get Up Stand Up’ however they like, and use the website to generate excitement about their new creations.
This new way to look at content distribution is riding a wave of creativity and controversy as corporations and governments struggle with the internet’s ability to share and distribute content. Public Enemy hopes to tap into a new generation of fans that may be unfamiliar with their legendary releases of the 80’s and 90’s, and embracing this new technology is key to that. Rather than turn to album sales as a means to support their work Public Enemy’s bundle will allow for users to buy exclusive multi-media content.
Content distribution continues to change at a rapid pace, making it difficult for businesses and lawmakers to keep up. Over a decade ago the U.S. Government began to take steps towards establishing domain over the internet and file exchanges, well before it became the subject of a nationwide debate. Congress has also stepped in and passed legislation to help aid content owners in protecting their creative works from online infringements. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) makes legal tracking of internet file exchanges, and new technology is allowing for incredible speed and accuracy when doing so. Copyright Enforcement Group (CEG TEK INTL) is one of a new breed of businesses that work to protect registered trademarks from the threat of online piracy. Once infringements are tracked to a specific computer a legal takedown notice is sent to those responsible for the illegal spread of data such as audio, video and images.
CEG’s process is almost entirely automated, and once an infringement registers a takedown notice can be sent. CEG TEK monitors internet traffic around the clock and has built themselves into a reputable and important brand in this growing field. Even without a fancy logo they have become industry leaders in copyright registration, data protection and the potential recovery of lost income due. It is still very early in copyright enforcement online, but CEG has many solutions in business intelligence to what has grown into an enormous problem for content holders.
Public Enemy is an iconic group, but one whose album sales have been sagging for several years. It remains uncertain if releasing their album on BitTorrent will lead to renewed interest in their music, but it’s certainly fitting that the group remains at the forefront of controversy decades after they became a counter-culture hit. On the other side of the conversation smaller content owners have the capability to protect their works without added cost of hassle.
CEG TEK – Copyright Infringement of Photograph of Desmond Howard
In an unusual turn of events a photographer has sued legendary football wide receiver Desmond Howard for copyright infringement over an iconic photograph that has been taken of him. Although Howard appears in the photo, he has no claims over its use despite profiting from it for decades.
Desmond Howard achieved worldwide fame in 1991 when an iconic image was taken of the player after he caught a touchdown pass against Ohio State University. The image, of Howard mimicking the iconic Heisman Trophy pose, was seen on sports pages across the globe, leading to newfound celebrity, which culminated in him receiving the actual Heisman Trophy later that year. Although Howard’s career in football has since ended, the image has been used and reused in advertising, memorabilia, and historical texts about the game. Desmond Howard has received compensation and attribution for the image of his famous pose, but the photographer who took that photographer 22 years ago has not. Brian Masck has filed suit against Howard, seeking compensation and claiming that the photo has been used without his authorization for many years.
Lawyers for Howard have cited what are known as ‘laches’ for their defense, as Masck had waited so long to file a proper claim against the football player. In 1991 Masck was paid $500 for his photograph, and has not received any compensation for it since. In 2011 the photographer asked for Howard to buy the rights to the photograph for roughly $300,000, which Howard refused. Later that year Masck got the image officially recognized and certified by the United States Copyright Office, opening the door for him to file a proper infringement suit against Desmond Howard.
Had Brian Masck taken more ownership of his image in the first place it is unlikely that this case would have escalated into a lawsuit Content owners must remain vigilant about the use of their intellectual property, especially in the realm of professional sports. A single image could be featured thousands of times across all types of media before the photographer or athlete has a proper opportunity to lay their claim and receive any benefits from it. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) has made the tracking of internet file sharing legal, opening the doors for a new breed of litigation and copyright enforcement. Technology continues to evolve in this field, making this tracking faster and more accurate than ever before. Copyright Enforcement Group (CEG TEK INTL) is a new leader in this field, and works to protect registered trademarks from the threat of online piracy. Infringements are tracked to a specific device and then a legal takedown notice is sent to those responsible. These infringements may be for various types of data such as audio, video, logos and images. This process is highly automated. Once an infringement registers a takedown notice can be sent.
Internet traffic is monitored 24/7 by CEG. This initiative has built the company into a reputable and important brand in this growing field. CEG-INTL has become an industry leader in copyright registration, data protection and the potential recovery of lost income due. CEG has many solutions in business intelligence to what has grown into an enormous problem for content holders. Desmond Howard’s case will undoubtedly remain a cautionary tale for athletes and photographers going forward.
Copyright Enforcement Group (CEG TEK International) 