Social networking site
MySpace
is to incorporate audio fingerprinting technology from
Gracenote
in an effort to stem the flow of copyrighted materials posted by its users.
Online services such as MySpace are under increasing pressure from copyright
holders to stop the flow of unauthorised material.
Universal
Music sued media-sharing sites
Bolt and
Grouper two
weeks ago for
copyright
infringement.
California-based Gracenote specialises in categorising and organising digital
music. The company will use its
MusicID
software and Global Media Database to check music files uploaded by MySpace
users for copyright violations.
"MySpace is staunchly committed to protecting artists' rights. This is
another important step to ensure that artists control the content they create,"
said MySpace chief executive and co-founder Chris DeWolfe.
MusicID analyses the waveforms in songs and can identify tracks or albums
regardless of file source, format or tag information.
The songs can then be cross-referenced with the Global Music Database,
allowing MySpace to filter copyrighted material when uploaded by its users.
In September, Universal Music accused MySpace and video sharing site
YouTube
of being "copyright infringers".
Media conglomerate
News
Corporation acquired MySpace in July 2005 for $580m.
Google
bought YouTube
earlier this
month for $1.65bn.
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