2009-04-22@23:43 A new digital anti-piracy company called Ripblock.com aims to curb the tide of illegal downloading and mp3 sharing sites in the dance music sector.

By targeting “files at the root of the problem” they hope to significantly reduce the spread of copyright content over the web.

Ripblock’s policy of ‘going after the source’ is quite different to the ‘sue the illegal downloader’ approach adopted by major labels in the past. It might just work for independent dance labels.

Ripblock actively scans search engines, known mp3 linking sites, blogs, forums and file hosting servers for their clients’ copyrighted content. Once copyrighted content is located they then report it to the file hosting companies abuse teams for removal.

What’s more, ripblock has been developing relationships with all the major file hosting companies with the aim of working side by side to speed up the removal processes and head towards collecting user information on offending uploaders. The hope is to build a “Known File Sharer Database” which will be freely available to their clients so that they can take further action should they wish to.

The dance music sector, which is wholly supported by independent labels, has always suffered from illegal downloading and file sharing but has never been able to do much about it due to a lack of funds and resources.

I’ve always felt that the number of people uploading copyrighted electronic music is small and nowhere near the level of offenders causing problems for major labels. In dance music, it isn’t so much ants that are causing problems in the garden but a few hairy spiders.

Ripblock’s service is a mere $73 or £50 per release for a two week scan/removal period, and back catalog release removals are charged at $3 or £2 per removal. That’s good value, if it protects a label’s future earning potential and artists’ dues.

Imprints already signed up to Ripblock’s service includes Cocoon, Border Community, Bpitch Control, Vandit, Skint, and Radio Slave’s Rekids.

AUTHOR:
• Christen Reutens

OTHER:
• Ripblock.com