Industry players unite for anti-piracy push

Microsoft, Amazon and Nokia are lending support to initiative aimed at tackling online piracy

The formation of a new industry group tasked with driving down online sales of counterfeit goods has won the backing of the Federation Against Software Theft (FAST).

More than 30 vendors and trade bodies, including Microsoft, Nokia, Amazon and the Interactive Software Federation of Europe, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 4 May, pledging their support to the fight against counterfeit online sales.

According to the MoU document, the members will pool resources to create a code of practice on how to prevent online piracy and take action against those involved in it.

"The sale of counterfeit goods over the internet is damaging and harmful to all legitimate stakeholders including internet platforms, intellectual property rights owners and, most importantly, consumers," the document states.

"The purpose of this MoU is to establish a code of practice in the fight against the sale of counterfeit goods over the internet and to enhance collaboration between the signatories including [on] notice and take-down procedures."

The document said the group also hopes the example set by its actions will be noticed by the rest of the industry.

Julian Heathcote Hobbins, legal counsel at FAST, welcomed the group's formation and the weight it will bring to the fight against online piracy.

"This may be a voluntary agreement, but it is a sign of the growing importance of the value of intellectual property rights in today's economy," he said. "Increased cooperation between all parties must be a good thing when notifying internet platforms, as this often leads to effective action."