James Delahunty
16 Jun 2007 16:31
AT&T has announced plans to step up efforts against Internet piracy being carried out on its network. The company will work closely with Hollywood movies studios and record companies to produce technology that can identify offshore content pirates that upload thousands of illegal files through AT&T's network. Privacy advocates have already voiced concerns about the plans, particularly because of how little details have been given on how it operates.
"What we're trying to do here is see if we can devise a technology that can address the problem," James W. Cicconi, AT&T's senior executive vice president of external and legislative affairs, said. "Then we'll have to address the legal issues that flow out of using such a technology." Cicconi acknowledged that AT&T's interests have become more aligned with content providers.
AT&T offers its own television service to consumers to compete with cable and satellite providers (and also Verizon Communications Inc.). "We've been considering these issues of piracy, and we do feel the interests of our shareholders are aligned with the interests of the content community," Cicconi said. "We very much have a stake, as they do, in trying to stem illegal appropriation of that content."
Source:
Yahoo (AP)