Bolt, MySpace Tap Audible For Copyright Protection

Social networking sites MySpace and Bolt will both start using copyright protection technology from Audible Magic in an attempt to placate the studios complaining of piracy.

Bolt is in discussions to begin using Audible Magic's system, which provides for the filtering of copyrighted material via a digital fingerprint, as part of a tentative settlement of a lawsuit brought by Universal Music Group. Bolt said it expects to harness the technology to learn when copyright content is played on the site, and then make royalty payments to Universal.

Bolt also will be acquired for up to $30 million stock by GoFish, which also uses the Los Gatos, Calif.-based Audible to learn when copyrighted clips appear on the site and pay royalties.

GoFish board member Tabreez Verjee said that when the settlement is finalized, Bolt will begin paying royalty fees to Universal, in an arrangement similar to one that GoFish currently has. Verjee will serve as co-president of Bolt with Cohen after the acquisition.

MySpace also said on Monday that it will begin testing Audible Magic's technology as a means of preventing users from uploading and sharing copyrighted video. During the test, MySpace will block the upload of clips copyrighted by Universal, unless they are authorized promotional materials. Universal and MySpace have tangled in court before. In November 2006, UMG sued the company for copyright infringement.

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