PRS Launches New Anti-Piracy System ‘MAPS’

PRS for Music has announced the launch of its new anti-piracy take-down tool ‘MAPS’. The newly developed system will "revolutionise" the way PRS for Music tackles copyright infringement of its members’ repertoire in the continued fight against online music piracy.

Working in partnership with The Publishers Association, the trade body for the UK book publishing industry, MAPS has been developed for PRS for Music to deliver a bespoke notice and takedown system. MAPS will initially be available to a selected number of publisher members in March 2016. The tool will locate unlicensed and infringing content made available online and will then allow users to automatically generate and serve notices to remove the content.  It will also allow users to remove links to the content found on Google and elsewhere.

PRS for Music’s Head of Litigation, Enforcement and Anti-Piracy, Simon Bourn said: “We are very excited to be rolling-out our new anti-piracy system to publisher members.  Where opportunistic and illegal use is made of our members’ repertoire online, without the necessary business model to sustain a legitimate licensed marketplace, it is important that we take action to protect the rights of our members and to preserve the value of their repertoire.  MAPS will deliver greater control and transparency to our members, allowing them to participate in our content protection work."

He added: "The system will also allow for a far greater number of infringements to be detected, reported and removed online. Whilst we call for the responsibilities of internet intermediaries to be clarified by law-makers, MAPS will utilise cutting-edge technology to enhance, automate and streamline PRS for Music’s rights protection work. ” adding "MAPS will be able to cut-off instances of piracy at the source, helping to ensure that the legitimate licensed services can be more easily found and that PRS for Music members receive fair remuneration for use of their repertoire online."

Members without access to the system in the initial roll-out can contact the PRS for Music Anti-Piracy Unit for removal of infringements of repertoire on their behalf.