Facebook ups the ante against pirated videos with content rights acquisition
Facebook is knuckling down in its efforts to stamp out video piracy following the purchase of content rights management startup Source3, a developer of proprietary software capable of detecting when pirated videos and other content have been shared without permission.
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The deal, the terms of which have not been disclosed, will see Facebook take charge of both the technology and some of the brains behind its creation.
In a statement welcoming their subsumption into the Facebook fold, the team at Source3 wrote: “Today, we wanted to let everyone know that we've decided to continue our journey with Facebook. We're excited to bring our IP, trademark and copyright expertise to the team at Facebook and serve their global community of two billion people, who consume content, music, videos and other IP every day.”
Facebook’s rationale behind the move is clear having grappled with a succession of issues pertaining to pirated content over the past year since the unveil of its ‘Rights Manager’ technology designed to detect and remove video clips shared by members who do not have permission to do so.
In turning to Source3 Facebook is tacitly signaling that its own in-house efforts haven’t yet arrived at a solution, prompting it to bring in outside expertise. An unspecified number of Source3 employees transferring to Facebook will take desk space at the social network’s New York office.
Facebook's rights manager software follows on the coattails of YouTube by enabling content creators to claim back a share of cash generated by content shared without their say so.