Time for social media sites, at least the big ones, to clean up…first YouTube’s efforts (Comedy Central clips being scrubbed out) and today MySpace announced that it had implemented a filtering system designed to identify copyrighted material posted by its users. This probably means upcoming deals with the music labels and other content companies.
WSJ says that talks between MySpace and Universal Music Group have recently hinged on just the kind of system MySpace has announced…in fact, MySpace is initially testing its service only on Universal content.
This system, developed by Gracenote, is supposed to filter out unauthorized content and identify licensed content in order to compensate copyright owners for its use.
Meanwhile, staying on Universal, the label is slashing European download prices for some of its older albums (the singles download pricing is not being changed), the first broad online cost-cutting move by any of the four major music companies. It said that starting November 1 it would reduce the prices it charges online retailers for 1,500 albums ranging from The Who’s “Quadrophenia” to R.E.M.‘s “Reckoning.” The prices ultimately charged consumers will be determined by individual online services, and are expected to sell for about 6.99 euros ($8.89) and 5.49 pounds ($10.43), reduced from 9.99 euros ($12.70) and 7.99 pounds ($15.20), respectively.