NBC Universal Among Authors of Verizon Copyright Letters

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 16, 2009 - 12:05pm.

San Francisco - NBC Universal (NYSE: GE) is among the studios on whose behalf Verizon (NYSE: VZ) is sending its ISP subscribers notices that they are suspected of violating copyrights on filesharing networks, CNET News.com reported, citing multiple unnamed sources. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) was reported last week to have engaged Verizon to deliver copyright letters on its behalf; an undisclosed number of other studios and copyright owners have made similar requests.

"We are happy to be working with the ISP community to raise awareness about inappropriate online activity," NBCU told CNET in a statement.

"The notice from NBCU that accompanies the ISP's letter includes a link through which consumers can learn about legitimate content online, and provides a number to call if consumers feel they have been contacted in error. We note, however, that virtually no users have contested the accuracy of the notices."

Other ISPs, including AT&T, Comcast and Cox, have in the past sent similar copyright letters to their subscribers on behalf of copyright owners.

The letters reportedly do not include any threats of interruption or disconnection of Internet service for users who fail to stop their actions.

http://snipurl.com/t9nzh (DMW previous coverage)