Misplaced Pages

Web Sheriff: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 05:27, 9 September 2011 editVQuakr (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers39,485 editsm →Description: unlink well known term "American"← Previous edit Latest revision as of 07:05, 14 August 2024 edit undoGreenC bot (talk | contribs)Bots2,555,750 edits Move 1 url. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#articles.latimes.com 
(350 intermediate revisions by 88 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|UK anti-piracy company}}
{{Cleanup|date=September 2011}}
{{Multiple issues|
⚫ {{Infobox company
{{POV|talk=NPOV concern|date=June 2019}}
{{Advert|date=June 2019}}
}}

⚫ {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
⚫ {{Infobox organization
| name = Web Sheriff | name = Web Sheriff
| logo = ] | logo = Sheriffbadge.png
| caption = The Web Sheriff logo, which reads 'Protecting Your Rights on the Internet' | caption = The Web Sheriff logo, which reads 'Protecting Your Rights on the Internet'
| type = | type =
| genre =
| fate =
| predecessor = | predecessor =
| successor = | successor =
| formation = {{start date and age|df=yes|2000|10|19}}<ref name="CH">{{cite web | url = https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/04093131 | title = WEB SHERIFF LIMITED | publisher = Companies House UK | accessdate = June 10, 2016}}</ref>
| foundation = 2000
| registration_id = 04093131<ref name="CH"/>
| founder = John Giacobbi | founder = John Giacobbi
| headquarters = {{Mf-adr | city = Pewsey | region = Wiltshire | nation = UK}}<ref name="CH"/>
| defunct =
| location_city = ] | location_city = ]
| location_country = ] | location_country = United Kingdom
| area_served = International | area_served = International
| key_people = John Giacobbi | leader_title = Director
| leader_name = John Edouard Giacobbi<ref name="CH"/>
⚫ | industry = ]
| leader_title2 = Secretary
| leader_name2 = Robert Arthur Davage
⚫ | purpose = ]
| products = | products =
| production =
| services = Copyright enforcement, ], website building, hosting and management, video editing | services = Copyright enforcement, ], website building, hosting and management, video editing
| revenue = | revenue =
⚫ | owner = Web Sheriff Limited
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| aum =
| assets =
| equity =
⚫ | owner = Web Sheriff Corporation
| num_employees = 20 | num_employees = 20
| parent =
| divisions =
| subsid = | subsid =
| homepage = | homepage = {{URL|websheriff.com}}
| footnotes = | footnotes =
| intl = yes
}} }}
'''Web Sheriff''' is an ] company based in the ] that provides ], ] and privacy rights protection services for a range of clients that include record labels, musical artists, media organizations, and celebrities.<ref name="cnet news"/> The company monitors various websites that host links to unauthorized downloads of copyrighted music and film. The company has been in operation since 2000, with two offices in the UK.<ref name="villagevoice"/><ref name="Rolling Stone">'']'', "Battle Over Online Piracy Gets a Sheriff", Andy Greene, RS 1077, April 2009</ref> '''Web Sheriff''' is an ] company based in the United Kingdom that provides ], ] and ] rights protection services. The company monitors various ]s that host links to ] of music and film. Web Sheriff has been in operation since 2000, with two offices in the UK.


The company was founded by attorney John Giacobbi, who acts as its managing director.<ref name="JG/MC"/> While Web Sheriff will send an immediate "take-down" notice to ] and other ] sites or threaten lawsuits on behalf of its clients,<ref name="cnet news"/><ref name="BBbiz">{{cite web|url=http://www.a2im.org/downloads/WebSheriffBillboard.pdf|title=New Sheriff in Town|publisher=] Upfront|date=2011-07-01|accessdate=2011-08-22}}</ref> the company reports that over half of its activities involve sending an initial polite request to ] and ] for copyrighted music to be removed, engaging with fans and offering free official promotional tracks and clips from the artist as replacement for the leaked material.<ref name="BBbiz"/><ref name="MensHealth">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.menshealth.com/health-headlines/the-most-hated-man-on-the-internet/2011/04/12|title=The Most Hated Man on the Internet|publisher='']'' |author= Daniels, Andrew|date=2011-04-12|accessdate=2011-04-12}}</ref> The company was founded by intellectual property lawyer John Giacobbi,<ref name="latimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-jun-09-la-et-web-sheriff-20110609-story.html|title=Piracy watchdog's mild bite|date=9 June 2011|last=Lewis|first=Randy|journal=]|access-date=29 November 2011}}</ref> who acts as its ]. Web Sheriff sends legal ] to ] and other ] sites.<ref name="BBbiz">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.a2im.org/downloads/WebSheriffBillboard.pdf|title=New Sheriff in Town|magazine=] Upfront|date=1 July 2011|accessdate=22 August 2011}}</ref><ref name="MensHealth">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.menshealth.com/health-headlines/the-most-hated-man-on-the-internet/2011/04/12|title=The Most Hated Man on the Internet|publisher=] |author= Daniels, Andrew|date=12 April 2011|accessdate=12 April 2011}}</ref> According to the '']'', Web Sheriff is a "leading advocate of the soft sell" in the anti-piracy industry.<ref name="latimes"/>


==Description== ==Description==
Web Sheriff performs various ] ]s.<ref name="Rolling Stone">'']'', "Battle Over Online Piracy Gets a Sheriff", Andy Greene, RS 1077, April 2009</ref> These include protection from ],<ref name="Watching you">{{cite news|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/article-23671006-off-the-record-web-sheriff-is-watching-you.do|title=Off the Record: Web Sheriff is watching you|journal=]|date=4 March 2009|accessdate=12 March 2010}}</ref> ],<ref name="villagevoice">{{cite news|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-12-10/music/meet-the-web-sheriff/|newspaper=]|title=Meet the Web Sheriff|author=Weiss, Dan|date=10 December 2008|accessdate=14 March 2011}}</ref> ],<ref name="NEtelegraph">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/social-media/9179106/Noel-Edmonds-confronts-Facebook-troll.html|title=Noel Edmonds confronts Facebook troll|date=1 April 2012|newspaper=]|accessdate=1 April 2012}}</ref><ref name="NPR">{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2012/04/15/150667557/british-attempt-to-squash-online-bullying|title=British Attempt to Squash Online Bullying|last=Reeves|first=Philip|publisher=]|location=]|date=15 April 2012|accessdate=25 April 2012}}</ref> ] ] issues of ], policing of trading sites<ref name="Esquire Magazine">'']'', UK edition, "Meet the Web Sheriff", August 2009</ref> and recovery of fraudulently registered ].<ref name="celebrityaccess">
Web Sheriff performs online rights management services including ] and ].<ref name="JG/MC">{{cite web|url=http://musiciancoaching.com/music-business/how-to-fight-music-piracy/|publisher=musiciancoaching.com|title=A Kinder, Gentler & More Effective War On Piracy|date=2010-07-06|last=Goetz|first=Rick|accessdate=2010-10-02-}}</ref><ref name="Esquire Magazine"/> It monitors ]s, ] trackers, ] sites, ], ], film-sharing sites and websites that host links to downloads of copyrighted music and film.<ref name="cnet news">{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9784193-7.html|publisher=]|title=Web Sheriff Doing it different than Media Defender|author=Sandoval, Greg|date=2007-09-25|accessdate=2011-03-14}}</ref><ref name="Sinclair">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/frontier-lawmen-1050557.html|title=Frontier lawmen|publisher=independent.ie|author=Sinclair, David|date=7 August 2007|accessdate=2011-08-28}}</ref> The most predominate work it performs is ] protection services for record labels, music artists and film companies when releasing new material.<ref name="Esquire Magazine"/> Major corporate ]s, ]s and American film ] use the company's services.{{#tag:ref|],<ref name="silentalkie">{{cite web|url=http://silenttalkie.com/2010/01/19/stradio/the-brown-couch-of-leisure-january-17-2010-a-year-oh-a-year/|publisher=Silent Talkie|title=The Brown Coach of Leisure|date=2010-01-17|accessdate=2011-09-06}}</ref> ],<ref name="villagevoice"/> ],<ref name="abcblogs">{{cite news|url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/allan_raible/2008/03/review-the-raco.html|publisher=]|title=Review: The Raconteurs’ "Consolers of the Lonely" |author=Raible, Allan|date=2008-03-27|accessdate=2011-09-06}}</ref> ],<ref name="abcblogs"/> ],<ref name="grizzlybearAC"/> ],<ref name="villagevoice"/> ],<ref name="timesonlineArctic">{{cite news|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article1594238.ece|publisher='']''|title=Arctic Monkeys go Bananas Over File Sharing|date=2007-03-31|accessdate=2011-09-06 | location=London | first=Adam | last=Sherwin}}</ref> and film distributors such as ].<ref name="Rolling Stone"/><ref name="Esquire Magazine"/><ref name="TheScotsman"/>}}
{{cite news|url=http://encore.celebrityaccess.com/index.php?encoreId=312&articleId=39802|title= Web Sheriff Goes To The Mats Against Russian Clone|journal=Encore|date=4 July 2011|accessdate=17 July 2011}}</ref> It also furnishes online security for concert tours.<ref name="Pollstar">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.pollstar.com/blogs/news/archive/2011/03/10/759184.aspx|title=Meet the Online Police|date=10 March 2011|magazine=]|author=Reinartz, Joe|accessdate=10 March 2011}}</ref>


==Operating methods==
The company uses proprietary software and web-crawler programmers to search the Internet.<ref name="Esquire Magazine"/><ref name="thefader">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2011/04/25/respect-yourself-interview-with-the-web-sheriff/|title=Respect Yourself: Interview with the Web Sheriff|publisher='']''|author=Cooper, Duncan|date=2011-04-25|accessdate=2011-04-25}}</ref> It relies heavily on phone calls and relationship building instead of only on technology.<ref name="cnet news"/> It does not illegally interfere or add bogus files but targets the persons running the sites.<ref name="spokesman">{{cite news|work=]|title=Facing the Music: There’s a New Anti-File-Sharing Sheriff in Town, and He’s Getting Results|date=2008-02-18|accessdate=2011-03-12}}</ref> When approaching fans on blogs, a polite request is made for the copyrighted material to be removed, while providing the fans with free official tracks and clips from the artist and record label. When it detects pirated content on BitTorrent and other file-sharing sites, the offending party is given an initial warning before further action is taken.<ref name="Esquire Magazine"/><ref name="WS guardian">{{cite news|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/oct/02/web-sheriff|publisher='']''|title=Web Sheriff is Watching You|date=2009-10-12|accessdate=2010-03-12 | location=London | first=Helienne | last=Lindvall}}</ref> According to Web Sheriff, some Torrent sites and file sharing sites such as ] and ] provide access and allow them to remove infringing content.<ref name="cnet news"/><ref name="Rolling Stone"/><ref name="BBCstars">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14536664|title=Stars step up wars on music leaks|publisher=]|last =Youngs|first=Ian|date=2011-08-16|accessdate=2011-08-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11443861|title=Lawyers to continue piracy fight|date=2010-09-30|publisher=]|last=Emory|first=Daniel|accessdate=2010-10-01}}</ref> Web Sheriff uses proprietary software and ] programs to search the Internet, using human auditing to determine the type of site that is posting its clients' copyrighted material.<ref name="thefader">{{cite news |url=http://www.thefader.com/2011/04/25/respect-yourself-interview-with-the-web-sheriff/|title=Respect Yourself: Interview with the Web Sheriff|newspaper=]|author=Cooper, Duncan|date=25 April 2011|accessdate=25 April 2011}}</ref> It relies heavily on phone calls and relationship building<ref name="cnet news">{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9784193-7.html|website=]|title=Web Sheriff Doing it different than Media Defender|author=Sandoval, Greg|date=25 September 2007|accessdate=14 March 2011}}</ref> and when locating unauthorized links it targets the persons running the sites.<ref name="spokesman">{{cite news |date=18 February 2008 |title=Facing the Music: There's a New Anti-File-Sharing Sheriff in Town, and He's Getting Results |work=]}}</ref> The supposed offending party is sent a take-down notice before further action is taken.<ref name="cnet news"/> Some Torrent sites and file-sharing sites such as ] and ] provide access to the company to remove infringing content itself.<ref name="BBCstars">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14536664|title=Stars step up wars on music leaks|publisher=]|last =Youngs|first=Ian|date=16 August 2011|accessdate=17 August 2011}}</ref>


The '']'' described the company's approach as representing "a sharp turn in the recording industry's life-and-death struggle with piracy, one driven largely by performers and their managers rather than the record companies."<ref name="latimes"/> When it contracts to protect new music releases, the company encourages the artists it represents to give fans several tracks ahead of the release.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2009/aug/20/artists-albums-leaked|title=Behind the music: How can artists prevent their work from being leaked?|newspaper=]|date=20 August 2009|last=Lindvall|first=Helienne|accessdate=13 January 2012}}</ref>
The company also provides design, website build and maintenance services as well as online security for the live broadcasts of concerts.<ref name="villagevoice">{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-12-10/music/meet-the-web-sheriff/|publisher='']''|title=Meet the Web Sheriff|author=Weiss, Dan|date=2008-12-10|accessdate=2011-03-14}}</ref><ref name="Pollstar">{{cite web|url=http://www.pollstar.com/blogs/news/archive/2011/03/10/759184.aspx|title=Meet the Online Police|date=2011-03-10|publisher=Pollstar|author=Reinartz, Joe|accessdate=2011-03-10}}</ref> It provides video editing services and manufactures ] CDs and DVDs and provides individually watermarked ] streams of audio and video for journalists.<ref name="villagevoice"/><ref name="JG/MC"/> The company also recovers fraudulently registered ].<ref name="Rolling Stone"/><ref name="celebrityaccess">
{{cite web|url=http://encore.celebrityaccess.com/index.php?encoreId=312&articleId=39802|title= Web Sheriff Goes To The Mats Against Russian Clone|publisher=Encore|date=2011-07-04|accessdate=2011-07-17}}</ref>


==History== ==History==
Web Sheriff was founded in 2000 by former music attorney and industry consultant<ref name="MensHealth"/> John Giacobbi.<ref name="MensHealth"/><ref name="lasplash">{{cite web|url=http://www.lasplash.com/publish/Home_Electronics/the-web-sheriff-a-new-kind-of-enforcement.php|title=The Web Sheriff: A New Kind of Enforcement|publisher=lasplash.com|last=Stevens|first=Serita|accessdate=3 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="hollywoodreporter">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/piracy-magnolia-pictures-takedown-notices-twitter-286406|title=Hollywood Piracy Watch: Magnolia Pictures Sends the Most Takedown Notices to Twitter|magazine=]|last=Gardner|first=Eriq|date=1 February 2012|accessdate=1 February 2012}}</ref>
Web Sheriff was founded in 2000 by ] John Giacobbi, who acts as company spokesman and managing director.<ref name="JG/MC"/><ref name="SOguardian">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jun/18/cn-group-sells-radio-stations|publisher='']''|title=CN group sells five radio stations to Quidem|author=Luft, Oliver|date=2009-06-18|accessdate=2011-01-26}}</ref> Prior to forming Web Sheriff, Giacobbi had been an independent consultant to record labels and artists including ]. The formation of the company evolved from a desire by Giacobbi to help Village People retain their rights on the internet, as ]s had become a major problem for the band at that time.<ref name="JG/MC">{{cite web|url=http://musiciancoaching.com/music-business/how-to-fight-music-piracy/|publisher=musiccoaching.com|title=A Kinder, Gentler & More Effective War On Piracy|date=2010-07-06|last=Goetz|first=Rick|accessdate=2010-10-02-2010}}</ref>


The company first came to note when it was hired by ] in 2007 to "disappear entirely from the internet."<ref name="Rolling Stone"/> The star's spokesman related that "Prince believes strongly that as an artist the music rights must remain with the artist and thus copyrights should be protected across the board." "Very few artists have ever taken this kind of action over their rights."<ref name="timesonline">{{cite news|url= http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article2447862.ece |publisher='']''|title=Prince takes on YouTube over clips|date=2007-09-13|accessdate=2010-03-12 | location=London}}</ref> Some of the Prince fans fought back, formed their own organization called "Prince Fans United" and hired an attorney.<ref name="Rolling Stone"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7082684.stm|title= Prince sites face legal threats|publisher=]|date=2007-11-07|accessdate=2010-10-01}}</ref> In September 2007, Web Sheriff announced it would launch lawsuits against ], ] and ] on behalf of Prince if they refused compliance.<ref name="BBbiz"/><ref name="timesonline"/><ref name="BBCPrince">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6993752.stm|publisher=]|date=2007-09-13|title=Prince get tough on web pirates|accessdate=2010-03-20}}</ref><ref name="BBCRadio 6">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/news/20070913_prince.shtml|title=Prince gets tough online|publisher=]|date=2007-09-13|accessdate=2010-04-02}}</ref> These sites were described by the company's spokesman as in the "vanguard of online piracy".<ref name="guardianuk">{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/sep/13/digitalmedia.business|publisher='']''|title=Prince seeks to 'Reclaim the net'|date=2007-09-13|accessdate=2010-03-12 | location=London | first=Jemima | last=Kiss}}</ref> ], co-founder of The Pirate Bay, dismissed the threats, stating that American law was not applicable in Sweden.<ref>{{cite news | first=Fredrik | last=Söderling | title=Prince stämmer Pirate Bay | url=http://www.dn.se/ekonomi/prince-pirate-bay-1.686275 | publisher=] | location=], Sweden | date=15 February 2008 | accessdate=17 February 2008 | language=Swedish }}</ref> YouTube complied by removing over 2,000 videos from their site and eBay removed more than 300 auctions.<ref name="guardianuk"/><ref name="billboard:Prince">{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003640709#/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003640709|publisher='']''|title=Prince to sue YouTube, eBay over unauthorized content|accessdate=2010-03-12}}</ref> Numerous unauthorized overseas online sites selling merchandise featuring Prince were shut down.<ref name="prince sues internet">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/prince-sues-internet-sites-for-breaching-his-copyright-402336.html|publisher='']''|date=2007-09-14|title=Prince sues internet sites for breaching his copyright|author= Byrne, Ciar|accessdate=2010-08-18}}</ref> Web Sheriff was hired by ] in September 2007 to help him "disappear entirely from the internet."<ref name="Rolling Stone"/> The star's spokesman related that "Prince believes strongly that as an artist the music rights must remain with the artist and thus copyrights should be protected across the board." "Very few artists have ever taken this kind of action over their rights." Web Sheriff announced it would launch lawsuits against ], ], and ] on behalf of Prince if they refused compliance in removing links to his unauthorized photos, videos, and music.<ref name="BBbiz"/><ref name="BBCPrince">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6993752.stm|work=]|date=13 September 2007|title=Prince get tough on web pirates|accessdate=20 March 2010}}</ref><ref name="BBCRadio 6">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/news/20070913_prince.shtml|title=Prince gets tough online|publisher=]|date=13 September 2007|accessdate=2 April 2010}}</ref> ], co-founder of The Pirate Bay, dismissed the threats, stating that American law was not applicable in Sweden.<ref>{{cite news | first=Fredrik |last=Söderling | title=Prince stämmer Pirate Bay | url=http://www.dn.se/ekonomi/prince-pirate-bay-1.686275 |newspaper=] | location=], Sweden | date=15 February 2008 | accessdate=17 February 2008 | language=Swedish }}</ref> YouTube complied by removing over 2,000 videos from their site and eBay removed more than 300 auctions.<ref name="billboard:Prince">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049302/prince-to-sue-youtube-ebay-over-unauthorized-content|magazine=]|title=Prince to sue YouTube, eBay over unauthorized content|accessdate=12 March 2010}}</ref><ref name="guardianuk">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/sep/13/digitalmedia.business|newspaper=]|title=Prince seeks to 'Reclaim the net'|date=13 September 2007|accessdate=12 March 2010 |location=London | first=Jemima | last=Kiss}}</ref><ref name="prince sues internet">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/prince-sues-internet-sites-for-breaching-his-copyright-402336.html|newspaper=]|date=14 September 2007|title=Prince sues internet sites for breaching his copyright|author= Byrne, Ciar|accessdate=18 August 2010}}</ref> In November 2007, three fan sites were given the notice to remove all images of the singer, his lyrics, and "anything linked to Prince's likeness".<ref name="canadaprince">{{cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/technology/story.html?id=dca23b94-518a-49c0-8196-9295e293520e&k=83626|title=Prince moves to sue fan web sites|agency=]|location=]|last=Casiato|first=Paul|date=7 November 2007|accessdate=2 February 2012}}</ref> Some of the Prince fans fought back, formed their own organization called "Prince Fans United" and hired an attorney.<ref name="Rolling Stone"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7082684.stm|title= Prince sites face legal threats|publisher=]|date=7 July 2007|accessdate=1 October 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/prince-releases-diss-track-as-battle-with-fans-gets-funky-20071109|title=Prince Releases Diss Track As Battle With Fans Gets Funky|magazine=]|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=9 November 2007|accessdate=11 January 2012}}</ref> Multiple unauthorized overseas online sites selling merchandise featuring Prince were shut down.<ref name="rsprince">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/princes-message-to-everyone-stop-bootlegging-my-stuff-20070914|title=Prince's Message to Everyone: Stop Bootlegging My Stuff|magazine=]|last=Frehsee|first=Nicole|date=14 September 2007|accessdate=8 January 2012}}</ref>


In 2008 the company was hired by ] to take down fan sites and tribute bands as well as the owner of the domain name pointlookout.com that had nothing to do with the artist.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fiveash |first=Kelly |title=Bryan Adams pulls a Prince on fan sites |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/27/canada_rocker/ |work=The Register |date=27 Oct 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sandoval |first1=Greg |title=Bryan Adams follows Prince in challenging fan sites |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/bryan-adams-follows-prince-in-challenging-fan-sites/ |website=CNET |date=October 27, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Allemann |first1=Andrew |title=Berkens' company sues musician Bryan Adams over bizarre trademark claims |date=11 July 2017 |url=https://domainnamewire.com/2017/07/11/berkens-company-sues-musician-bryan-adams-bizarre-trademark-claims/ |publisher=Domain Name Wire |accessdate=26 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Worldwide Media, Inc.vs Bryan Adams and Adams Communications Inc. |url=https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.flsd.509736/gov.uscourts.flsd.509736.1.0.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Exhibit A |url=https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.flsd.509736/gov.uscourts.flsd.509736.1.1.pdf}}</ref>
In 2007, when ]'s album '']'' leaked three months previous to release, their record label, ] hired Web Sheriff to stop the leakage.<ref name="musicweekblocparty">{{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?storyCode=27184&sectioncode=1|title=V2 and Web Sheriff shield Bloc Party|publisher='']''|date=2007-03-26|accessdate=2010-03-24}}</ref> Web Sheriff at first appealed to fan sites to not post links to the album out of respect for the band. When this approach did not work, widespread uploaders were tracked down and sent letters that referred to possible prosecution. Said to face a possible one million illegal MP3 files downloaded, the leakage was reduced to an insignificant amount.<ref name="timesonlineArctic">{{cite news|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article1594238.ece|publisher='']''|title=Arctic Monkeys go Bananas Over File Sharing|date=2007-03-31|accessdate=2010-03-12 | location=London | first=Adam | last=Sherwin}}</ref>


In 2016, the company was hired by ] to remove an unflattering picture by claiming the copyright belonged to Axl Rose and not the photographer.<ref>{{cite news |title=Appetite for destruction: Axl Rose demands Google remove 'fat' photos |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jun/06/axl-rose-google-remove-photos |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Axl Rose Wants His "Fat" Photos Removed From the Internet |url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/axl-rose-wants-his-fat-photos-removed-from-the-192330948.html |publisher=Yahoo |accessdate=28 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Axl Rose demands Google take down "Fat Axl Rose" photo |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/axl-rose-demands-google-take-down-fat-axl-rose-photo |work=CBS News |date=June 8, 2016}}</ref>
In 2008, ] hired the company to contact fan sites and demand that photos, lyrics and other copyrighted material be removed immediately.<ref name="QMagVM">'']'', "Van Morrison fights internet", May 2009</ref> His manager stated that posting the photos were an invasion of Morrison's privacy. The two most popular sites closed down soon after they were notified. Through the wishes of the artist all related videos on YouTube and elsewhere promptly disappeared from the Internet.<ref name="Rolling Stone"/>


⚫ ==Reception==
] employed the company in 2008 to remove thousands of low quality ] video clips from ] and replace them with official videos on his own channel. The new channel was a success and had 187 million views one and one-half years later.<ref name="Pollstar"/>
⚫ Music fans and bloggers often initially respond angrily when first approached by Web Sheriff on its clients' official and unofficial forums. According to the '']'', "Music blogging sites are littered with comments with the Sheriff's contact details at the top, thanking bloggers for obeying the rules." Fans sometimes interpret this as Web Sheriff saying, "I've got my eye on you."<ref name="Watching you"/> The company reports that eventually most of the fans tend to respect the wishes of their favored artists by cooperating.<ref name="cnet news"/> As related by '']'', ] fans on the brainkiller forum engaged with Web Sheriff on a thread that lasted through 18 pages. Some of the fans who had been hostile at the beginning, then asked what they could do to help the band.<ref name="WS guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/oct/02/web-sheriff|newspaper=]|title=Web Sheriff is Watching You|date=12 October 2009|accessdate=12 March 2010 | location=London | first=Helienne |last=Lindvall}}</ref><ref name="ITTCanada">{{cite web|url=http://www.itworldcanada.com/news/web-sheriff-fights-music-piracy-with-social-media/143069|publisher=itworldcanada.com|title=Web Sheriff fights music piracy|last=Lau|first=Kathleen|date=4 May 2011 |accessdate=28 August 2011}}</ref>


Web Sheriff's method of using a "velvet glove approach" to appeal to fans has been said by Randy Lewis with the '']'' to have notable successes, including Lady Gaga's '']'' and Adele's '']''.<ref name="latimes"/> This journalist also notes that despite these examples of the success of the "diplomatic strategy", the company's gentle approach still has skeptics, with some critics calling it naïve: Brad Buckles, an executive in copyright enforcement with ], was quoted as saying: "It's certainly well-intended and may work in some cases. The problem is in many, many cases, you're dealing with people who have no respect whatsoever for the intellectual property of record labels or the artists themselves."<ref name="latimes"/> A '']'' journalist concludes that to appeal to sites that post links to unauthorized music and engaging with fans and redirecting them to authorized content by the artist is a "strategy with a future if implemented properly."<ref name="BBbiz"/>
When ] introduced their new ] site In January 2008, Web Sheriff notified the site on behalf of Prince, ] and ] that regardless of whether the music companies supported the service, individual artists would have to give their approval.<ref name="spokesman web sheriff">{{cite web|title=Not even out the door and already the Web Sheriff is after Qtrax|publisher='']''|author=Sowa, Tom|date=2008-01-29|accessdate=2010-03-31}}</ref><ref name="Cnet Qtrax">{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9860263-1.html|title=After label, Qtrax must satisfy Prince, Van Morrison|publisher=]|author=Sandoval, Greg|date=2008-01-29|accessdate=2010-03-31}}</ref>

When "]", the first song from ]'s album '']'' leaked in November 2008, Web Sheriff posted to ]'s blog that they were the "global-leak-source of the track" and asked for an apology to be posted on the blog for a week to Domino Records, Animal Collective and Web Sheriff.<ref name="villagevoice"/><ref name="grizzlybearAC">{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/34111-grizzly-bear-apologize-to-animal-collective-for-leak/|title=Grizzly Bear Apologize to Animal Collective for Leak|date=2008-11-24|accessdate=2011-09-06|first=Paul|last=Thompson|coauthors=Phillips, Amy|publisher='']''}}</ref> Grizzly Bear band member ] complied and apologized stating "The Web Sheriff is just doing his job, and we're all aware of the damage internet file sharing is doing to album sales."<ref name="Watching you"/> The album leaked a month early and while Web Sheriff said it was "virtually impossible to completely put an album back in the box after a leak", the company was able to remove 90% or 10,000 of the links.<ref name="Rolling Stone"/>

RLSLOG, called one of the world's most popular release news sites, was taken offline in January 2009 through efforts by Web Sheriff. The site was shut down by complaints by Web Sheriff to its web site host and ] provider.<ref name="TorrentFreak">{{cite web|url=http://torrentfreak.com/web-sheriff-takes-down-rlslog-090119/|title=Web Sheriff Takes Down RLSLOG|publisher=]|date=2009-01-19|accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref><ref name="DMW">{{cite web|url=http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2010/04/27/universal-music-complaint-gets-web-leaks-news-site-pulled|publisher=]|title=Universal Music complaint gets web leaks news site pulled|author=Hefflington, Mark|date=2010-04-27|accessdate=2011-03-14}}</ref>

] used the company's services ] to protect his charity Christmas album, '']'' following its leak in October 2009. By removing unauthorized downloads, more money was generated for World food programs for hunger relief. Web Sheriff also removed unauthorized videos from the internet, replacing them with official ones on Dylan's YouTube channel.<ref name="JG/MC"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/10/leaked_bob_dylan.html|publisher=''nymag''|title=Bob Dylan’s Awesome Christmas Album Leaks|author=Brown, Lane|date=2009-10-08|accessdate=2011-03-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| url = http://www.fundraising.co.uk/news/2009/12/14/cafamerica-distribute-royalities-bob-dylan039s-christmas-album-crisis | title = CAFAmerica to distribute royalities &#91;sic&#93; from Bob Dylan's Christmas album to Crisis | date = 2009-12-14| accessdate = 2009-12-19| publisher = UK Fundraising}}</ref>

Web Sheriff was directly responsible for the removal of the ] execution videos and has closed down terrorist related sites and monitored trading sites.<ref name="Esquire Magazine">'']'', UK edition, "Meet the Web Sheriff", August 2009</ref> as well as the extreme pornographic ] sites at the center of the notorious ] 2003 murder trial at the ] in ], England.<ref name="bbc Longhurst">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/3504926.stm|publisher=]|title=BBC: Two years to close porn site|date=2004-03-12|accessdate=2010-03-12}}</ref><ref name="mailonsunday2005">{{cite news|last=Giacobbi|first=John|title =How we can clean up the internet|work =]|date =2005-09-11}}</ref>

⚫ ==Reception==
Web Sheriff is said to also function as a "fan outreach organization"<ref name="JG/MC"/> through its unique, "gentle, gradual approach".<ref name="latimes">{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-web-sheriff-20110609,0,2614591.story|title=Piracy watchdog's mild bite|date=2011-06-09|last=Lewis|first=Randy|journal=]|accessdate=2011-09-06}}</ref> The company's methods make use of each fan encounter to "turn a negative into a positive by using ] and actively engaging with and including fans and bloggers in their marketing and promotion."<ref name="cnet news"/><ref name="Esquire Magazine"/><ref name="TheScotsman">{{cite web|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/critique/Caught-in-the-net.5154998.jp|title=Caught in the net|author=Smyth, David|date=2009-04-11|publisher='']''|accessdate=2011-04-11}}</ref><ref name="WS guardian"/><ref name="Watching you">{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/article-23671006-off-the-record-web-sheriff-is-watching-you.do|title=Off the Record: Web Sheriff is watching you|publisher='']''|date=2009-03-04|accessdate=2010-03-12}}</ref><ref name="HPJG">{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/john-giacobbi|title=John Giacobbi|publisher='']''|date=2011-07-30|accessdate=2011-08-17}}</ref> Web Sheriff states their intent is to engage with the protected artist's fans where they congregate most and redirect them to artist approved material with the hope that they will leave the leaked content alone. The company then tries to build a relationship with the fans and promote the artist further by sharing links to their ], ], ] page and to the artist's official website.<ref name="BBbiz"/>


== See also ==
⚫ Music fans and bloggers often initially respond angrily when first requested by Web Sheriff to take down ] tracks or to not post them on the music-related site. Web Sheriff's usual approach is an appeal to the fans to respect the wishes of the band with offers of links to approved tracks and samples for the new album. Fans sometimes interpret this as Web Sheriff saying, "I've got my eye on you."<ref name="Watching you"/> The company spokesman says that eventually most of the fans tend to respect the wishes of their favored artists by cooperating.<ref name="cnet news"/> As related by ''The Guardian'', The Prodigy fans on the brainkiller forum engaged with Web Sheriff on a thread that lasted through 18 pages. Some of the fans who had been hostile at the beginning, then asked what they could do to help the band.<ref name="WS guardian">{{cite news|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/oct/02/web-sheriff|publisher='']''|title=Web Sheriff is Watching You|date=2009-10-12|accessdate-2010-03-12 | location=London | first=Helienne | last=Lindvall}}</ref><ref name="ITTCanada">{{cite web|url=http://www.itworldcanada.com/news/web-sheriff-fights-music-piracy-with-social-media/143069|publisher=itworldcanada.com|title=Web Sheriff fights music piracy|date=|last=Lau|first=Kathleen|accessdate=2011-08-28}}</ref>
* ]


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} {{Reflist|30em}}


==External links== ==External links==
* *
* Syndicatednews.net - 03/20/2011 * Syndicatednews.net - 20 March 2011
⚫ {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2011}}


] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]

Latest revision as of 07:05, 14 August 2024

UK anti-piracy company
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (June 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
This article contains promotional content. Please help improve it by removing promotional language and inappropriate external links, and by adding encyclopedic text written from a neutral point of view. (June 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
(Learn how and when to remove this message)

Web Sheriff
Formation19 October 2000; 24 years ago (2000-10-19)
FounderJohn Giacobbi
Registration no.04093131
PurposeIntellectual property rights
HeadquartersPewsey, Wiltshire, UK
Location
Area served International
ServicesCopyright enforcement, digital rights management, website building, hosting and management, video editing
OwnerWeb Sheriff Limited
DirectorJohn Edouard Giacobbi
SecretaryRobert Arthur Davage
Employees20
Websitewebsheriff.com

Web Sheriff is an anti-piracy company based in the United Kingdom that provides intellectual property, copyright and privacy rights protection services. The company monitors various websites that host links to downloads of music and film. Web Sheriff has been in operation since 2000, with two offices in the UK.

The company was founded by intellectual property lawyer John Giacobbi, who acts as its managing director. Web Sheriff sends legal take-down notices to BitTorrent and other file sharing sites. According to the Los Angeles Times, Web Sheriff is a "leading advocate of the soft sell" in the anti-piracy industry.

Description

Web Sheriff performs various copy protection services. These include protection from copyright infringement, libel, cyber-bullying, identity theft privacy issues of social media, policing of trading sites and recovery of fraudulently registered domain names. It also furnishes online security for concert tours.

Operating methods

Web Sheriff uses proprietary software and web crawler programs to search the Internet, using human auditing to determine the type of site that is posting its clients' copyrighted material. It relies heavily on phone calls and relationship building and when locating unauthorized links it targets the persons running the sites. The supposed offending party is sent a take-down notice before further action is taken. Some Torrent sites and file-sharing sites such as MediaFire and RapidShare provide access to the company to remove infringing content itself.

The Los Angeles Times described the company's approach as representing "a sharp turn in the recording industry's life-and-death struggle with piracy, one driven largely by performers and their managers rather than the record companies." When it contracts to protect new music releases, the company encourages the artists it represents to give fans several tracks ahead of the release.

History

Web Sheriff was founded in 2000 by former music attorney and industry consultant John Giacobbi.

Web Sheriff was hired by Prince in September 2007 to help him "disappear entirely from the internet." The star's spokesman related that "Prince believes strongly that as an artist the music rights must remain with the artist and thus copyrights should be protected across the board." "Very few artists have ever taken this kind of action over their rights." Web Sheriff announced it would launch lawsuits against YouTube, eBay, and The Pirate Bay on behalf of Prince if they refused compliance in removing links to his unauthorized photos, videos, and music. Peter Sunde, co-founder of The Pirate Bay, dismissed the threats, stating that American law was not applicable in Sweden. YouTube complied by removing over 2,000 videos from their site and eBay removed more than 300 auctions. In November 2007, three fan sites were given the notice to remove all images of the singer, his lyrics, and "anything linked to Prince's likeness". Some of the Prince fans fought back, formed their own organization called "Prince Fans United" and hired an attorney. Multiple unauthorized overseas online sites selling merchandise featuring Prince were shut down.

In 2008 the company was hired by Bryan Adams to take down fan sites and tribute bands as well as the owner of the domain name pointlookout.com that had nothing to do with the artist.

In 2016, the company was hired by Axl Rose to remove an unflattering picture by claiming the copyright belonged to Axl Rose and not the photographer.

Reception

Music fans and bloggers often initially respond angrily when first approached by Web Sheriff on its clients' official and unofficial forums. According to the Evening Standard, "Music blogging sites are littered with comments with the Sheriff's contact details at the top, thanking bloggers for obeying the rules." Fans sometimes interpret this as Web Sheriff saying, "I've got my eye on you." The company reports that eventually most of the fans tend to respect the wishes of their favored artists by cooperating. As related by The Guardian, The Prodigy fans on the brainkiller forum engaged with Web Sheriff on a thread that lasted through 18 pages. Some of the fans who had been hostile at the beginning, then asked what they could do to help the band.

Web Sheriff's method of using a "velvet glove approach" to appeal to fans has been said by Randy Lewis with the Los Angeles Times to have notable successes, including Lady Gaga's Born This Way and Adele's 21. This journalist also notes that despite these examples of the success of the "diplomatic strategy", the company's gentle approach still has skeptics, with some critics calling it naïve: Brad Buckles, an executive in copyright enforcement with RIAA, was quoted as saying: "It's certainly well-intended and may work in some cases. The problem is in many, many cases, you're dealing with people who have no respect whatsoever for the intellectual property of record labels or the artists themselves." A Billboard journalist concludes that to appeal to sites that post links to unauthorized music and engaging with fans and redirecting them to authorized content by the artist is a "strategy with a future if implemented properly."

See also

References

  1. ^ "WEB SHERIFF LIMITED". Companies House UK. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  2. ^ Lewis, Randy (9 June 2011). "Piracy watchdog's mild bite". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  3. ^ "New Sheriff in Town" (PDF). Billboard Upfront. 1 July 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  4. ^ Daniels, Andrew (12 April 2011). "The Most Hated Man on the Internet". Men's Health. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  5. ^ Rolling Stone, "Battle Over Online Piracy Gets a Sheriff", Andy Greene, RS 1077, April 2009
  6. ^ "Off the Record: Web Sheriff is watching you". Evening Standard. 4 March 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  7. Weiss, Dan (10 December 2008). "Meet the Web Sheriff". The Village Voice. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  8. "Noel Edmonds confronts Facebook troll". telegraph.co.uk. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  9. Reeves, Philip (15 April 2012). "British Attempt to Squash Online Bullying". London: NPR. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  10. Esquire Magazine, UK edition, "Meet the Web Sheriff", August 2009
  11. "Web Sheriff Goes To The Mats Against Russian Clone". Encore. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  12. Reinartz, Joe (10 March 2011). "Meet the Online Police". Pollstar. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  13. Cooper, Duncan (25 April 2011). "Respect Yourself: Interview with the Web Sheriff". The Fader. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  14. ^ Sandoval, Greg (25 September 2007). "Web Sheriff Doing it different than Media Defender". CNET. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  15. "Facing the Music: There's a New Anti-File-Sharing Sheriff in Town, and He's Getting Results". The Spokesman-Review. 18 February 2008.
  16. Youngs, Ian (16 August 2011). "Stars step up wars on music leaks". BBC. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  17. Lindvall, Helienne (20 August 2009). "Behind the music: How can artists prevent their work from being leaked?". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  18. Stevens, Serita. "The Web Sheriff: A New Kind of Enforcement". lasplash.com. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  19. Gardner, Eriq (1 February 2012). "Hollywood Piracy Watch: Magnolia Pictures Sends the Most Takedown Notices to Twitter". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  20. "Prince get tough on web pirates". BBC News. 13 September 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  21. "Prince gets tough online". BBC Radio 6. 13 September 2007. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  22. Söderling, Fredrik (15 February 2008). "Prince stämmer Pirate Bay". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Stockholm, Sweden. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  23. "Prince to sue YouTube, eBay over unauthorized content". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  24. Kiss, Jemima (13 September 2007). "Prince seeks to 'Reclaim the net'". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  25. Byrne, Ciar (14 September 2007). "Prince sues internet sites for breaching his copyright". The Independent. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  26. Casiato, Paul (7 November 2007). "Prince moves to sue fan web sites". London. Reuters. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  27. "Prince sites face legal threats". BBC. 7 July 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  28. Kreps, Daniel (9 November 2007). "Prince Releases Diss Track As Battle With Fans Gets Funky". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  29. Frehsee, Nicole (14 September 2007). "Prince's Message to Everyone: Stop Bootlegging My Stuff". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  30. Fiveash, Kelly (27 October 2008). "Bryan Adams pulls a Prince on fan sites". The Register.
  31. Sandoval, Greg (27 October 2008). "Bryan Adams follows Prince in challenging fan sites". CNET.
  32. Allemann, Andrew (11 July 2017). "Berkens' company sues musician Bryan Adams over bizarre trademark claims". Domain Name Wire. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  33. "Worldwide Media, Inc.vs Bryan Adams and Adams Communications Inc" (PDF).
  34. "Exhibit A" (PDF).
  35. "Appetite for destruction: Axl Rose demands Google remove 'fat' photos". The Guardian.
  36. "Axl Rose Wants His "Fat" Photos Removed From the Internet". Yahoo. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  37. "Axl Rose demands Google take down "Fat Axl Rose" photo". CBS News. 8 June 2016.
  38. Lindvall, Helienne (12 October 2009). "Web Sheriff is Watching You". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  39. Lau, Kathleen (4 May 2011). "Web Sheriff fights music piracy". itworldcanada.com. Retrieved 28 August 2011.

External links

Categories: