EditPLS and piracy
Recently PLS has been working to become more involved in helping publishers with the challenging area of piracy.
The ethos of collective licensing is to promote a respect for copyright and to compensate rightsholders for the use of their works. PLS’ role is to protect publishers rights by instilling the importance of protecting copyrighted material. Together with the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society, PLS owns and directs the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) who work closely with their licensees to educate them in relation to copyright and enforce the licensing terms when necessary.
The CLA also actively seeks to bring infringement cases to light for PLS to inform publishers. In order to help prevent illegal copying the CLA also developed the ‘Copywatch’ scheme. Copywatch works to detect illegal copying of magazines, books and journals. The initiative offers rewards for evidence of infringement and enables employees to report any illegal use. For further information please go to
hhtp://www.copywatch.org
Continuing the anti-piracy work, in April 2009 former PLS CEO, Alicia Wise was appointed digital consultant at the Publishers Association (PA). Alicia’s role was to lead the PA on digital issues and e-crime, specifically working on their Copyright Infringement Portal. The portal targets websites offering infringing copies of material for free download. The portal can be of huge benefit to publishers in coordinating and issuing take down notices for territorial infringements as well as copyright infringement. As of 5th June 2009, 88% of notices had been effective in removing infringing content. The portal also has a notice board whereby sites containing infringing can be flagged.
This service is offered free for PA members and at a modest charge for other publishers. For more information please
click here
PLS has also been working with law firm Covington and Burling with a pilot project to research four specific websites for infringing material, using spanning approximately 100,000 titles from 10 selected publishers.
Affiliated organisations
PLS are members of the
British Copyright Council(BCC) and the
Alliance Against IP Theft. The British Copyright Council is a national consultative and advisory body which represents organisations of copyright owners. The BCC's main purpose is to encourage its members to review and debate proposals for legislative change in the field of copyright and where possible to develop a consensus view. PLS embrace the confidence to work to uphold copyright and combat piracy. The Alliance Against IP Theft is a coalition of trade associations and enforcement organisations with an interest in ensuring intellectual property rights receive the protection they need and deserve. The Alliance is concerned with ensuring intellectual property rights are valued in the UK, and that a robust, efficient legislative and regulatory regime exists which enables these rights to be properly protected. PLS thoroughly endorses the work of both organisations in promoting prevention and solutions to copyright infringement.
Last updated IF 07/07/2010