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The Center for Copyright Information ('CCI') is an organization dedicated to informing the public about online copyright law and piracy. The Center is responsible for creating The Copyright Alert System which uses Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to alert users of online content theft. In this system the ISPs will send out up to six (or more) progressive alerts in order to curb subscribers' internet use; if abuse continues, then more severe measures can be taken.

Background
The Center for Copyright Information is a collective composed of several media industry corporations and associations attempting to employ a new system of copyright alerts in order to protect copyrighted material. The Center focuses on protecting copyrighted material’s distribution online, asserting in a public statement that it “will also help to develop and confirm “best-practices” for a new system of Copyright Alerts, similar to credit card fraud alerts, which will alert internet service subscribers when potential content theft is identified on their Internet accounts.” The internet alert system uses Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to notify users that they are their account is being used for online content theft. These notifications are intended to alert users who accidently or consciously downloaded illegal content of their misconduct and urge them to stop this behaviour. If users engage in illegal activities after several alerts more sever measures will be taken. According to the Center of Copyright Information's FAQ Internet Service Providers can take “Mitigation Measure.”“These Mitigation Measures may include: temporary reductions of Internet speeds, redirection to a landing page until the subscriber contacts the ISP to discuss the matter or reviews and responds to some educational information about copyright, or other measures (as specified in published policies) that the ISP may deem necessary to help resolve the matter.”

The Copyright Alert System is intended to diminish online piracy and content thief, and with ISPs such as AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon participating in the policy "the proposal appears to have the potential to become one of the most potent antipiracy strategies ever implemented." The White House Blog has also responded to this anti-piracy coalition in an online statement that acknowledged the importance of The Center for Copyright Information's Alert System, and the continued effort to improve online law enforcement and public education on piracy. The Center for Copyright information also hopes to improve parents’ involvement in what their kids are doing online by alerting misconduct and abuse of their accounts.

Parties Involved
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is credited as helping the parties negotiate and create the Copyright Alerts System.

"The companies and associations collaborating on establishing the Center include:

Motion Picture Association of American and MPAA members: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Universal Studios, and Warner Brothers Entertainment. Independent Film & Television Alliance. Recording Industry Association of America and RIAA members: Universal Music Group Recordings, Warner Music Group, Sony Music North America, and EMI Music North America. American Association of Independent Music. Internet Service Providers including: AT&T, Cablevision, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Verizon."

Copyright Alerts
Users who download illegal content (such as movies, television shows, or music) will be issued online alerts by the Copyright Alert system, via the ISPs. Users who continue to participate in online theft may be issued up to six alerts in the form of pop-up messages and e-mails.

The system of alerts is as follows:


 * The first and second alerts will notify ISP subscribers that their conduct is illegal and provide explanation on how to avoid future offenses, directing users to lawful media content sites.


 * If the user’s behaviour persists a third and fourth alert will be send. These alerts will ask “the subscriber to acknowledge receipt” of them by clicking a notice.


 * If the ISPs have to send out a fifth alert then at this time they are allowed to take “Mitigation Measures” to prevent future content theft.


 * The Center for Copyright Information makes it clear that “ISPs are not obligated to impose any Mitigation Measure which would disable ... subscriber’s voice telephone service (including the ability to call 911), e-mail account, or any security or health service (such as home security or medical monitoring).”


 * By the sixth alert ISPs can take Mitigation Measures in order to stop online piracy.

Reception and Controversy
The Center for Information's implementation of the Copyright Alert System has given rise to controversy about the extent of the Mitigation Measure for repeat offenders. Though the Alert System does not require user's account to be terminated, the FAQ at the Center for Copyright Information points to section 512 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act which "requires that the ISPs have in place a termination policy for repeat copyright infringers.". The system has been criticized for the harsh measures that ISPs may take over 'questionable' piracy claims and false accusations that can unlawfully harm individual's operating in completely legal ways.

Also See

 * Anti-piracy


 * Copyright infringement