A new system designed to combat copyright infringement was launched in the U.S. on Monday, a joint venture between content companies and internet service providers known as the Copyright Alert System. The name sounds harmless enough, and supporters argue that it’s an appropriate balance between copyright and an open Internet, but critics argue that the so-called “six strikes” process is the thin edge of an ever-broader wedge that copyright holders are trying to drive between consumers and digital content.
The new rules, which have been in the works for over a year and have been repeatedly delayed, are being administered by the Center For Copyright Information, a nonprofit entity made up of theoretically independent representatives from such agencies as the Internet Education Foundation and the Future of Privacy Forum. It includes Jerry Berman, a former director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, as well as Gigi Sohn of Public Knowledge. They have teamed up with five of the largest ISPs, including Verizon and Comcast.
