CANOGA PARK, Calif.—Since its launch in April, Free Speech Coalition’s Anti-Piracy Action Program (APAP) has documented nearly 287 million views on 1,700 clips identified with APAP’s best-of-breed spidering software. Overall, 18 adult production companies participating in APAP have fingerprinted more than 5,000 titles with the software to track content and gather data from infringing tube sites.
“What an eye opener,” said Adam & Eve President Bob Christian. “To see from a small test that over 13 million illegal, unauthorized viewings of just seven of our expensive, high-quality movies have occurred is staggering to us. This is important work going on!”
APAP’s day-to-day operations are overseen by attorney Gill Sperlein, of Sperlein Law. Alongside his work with APAP, Sperlein also is in-house counsel for adult production company Titan Media and is a leading adult industry attorney in copyright infringement litigation. Titan Media recently was awarded $1.35 million by a U.S. District court, in a suit against tube site operators Antelope Media LLC.
Since the program has been in full operation, more than 1,700 DMCA notices have been sent to infringing sites on behalf of APAP participants, Sperlein said.
In addition to tracking content, delivering data reports to participants, and issuing DMCA notices to infringing sites, APAP also offers producers an option to monetize their content on tube sites. APAP organizers are negotiating with tube site operators to take down illegal content and replace it with legal clips that lead viewers to a retail option where they can purchase content, with technology similar to that being used on YouTube and other legitimate tube sites.
“I’m really excited to be working on this project, because it is going to bring about a fundamental shift,” Sperlein said. “APAP provides a model for tube sites to go legitimate and for content owners to start getting their fair share.”
The program also offers free pre-litigation counseling to assist producers that are considering legal action against infringers. APAP organizers also can provide options for producers to form litigation groups, to file suit against infringers. Data reports compiled by APAP can be used as evidence of infringement, in the event of a lawsuit.
Participants also are given a FSC-branded APAP logo to use on DVD packaging or display on their websites. The logo indicates to infringers that the participant’s content has been fingerprinted for tracking through the program.
APAP is available to FSC member content producers for a set-up fee of $450, and low monthly charges based on the amount of content being tracked.
For more information on APAP or joining FSC, contact (818) 348-9373 or contact FSC Membership Director Joanne Cachapero at [email protected].
