Audible Magic Press Release
Audible Magic Signs Agreement with Sony Music To Work On Wide Range of Content Management and Anti-Piracy Initiatives
LOS GATOS, California — June 1, 2004 — Audible Magic, a leading provider of products and technology for tracking and controlling copyrighted content usage, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Sony Music through which the two companies will work together to address a broad range of content management and anti-piracy initiatives.
As part of the agreement Sony Music will electronically register its new music with Audible Magic’s CopySense, which can be used to recognize and block unauthorized downloads of copyrighted songs on P2P networks. Sony Music material will also be registered with RepliCheck, a database of "audio fingerprints" that CD pressing plants can utilize in order to avoid pirate activity. This registration will also allow Sony Music material to be tracked by Audible Magic’s broadcast monitoring services, which provide royalty information used by SESAC, and marketing information used by CMJ Network for its RAM (Realtime Airplay Metrics) airplay reporting service.
Sony Music and Audible Magic will also work together to support the Campus Action Network (CAN), an industry-wide initiative that provides colleges and universities with recommendations on new technology solutions, including filtering systems, that help combat illegal file-sharing more effectively while preserving other legitimate uses of P2P services. CAN also helps universities across the country to identify the legitimate online music services that work best for them, and to educate their student bodies on copyright issues related to peer-to-peer file sharing.
In addition, Sony Music will license Audible Magic software libraries and integrate them into their custom-built global digital asset management system. The Audible magic fingerprinting software, which is based upon its CopySense technology, will enable Sony Music to streamline content management in their database of hundreds of thousands of songs across international regions.
“We are looking forward to working with Sony Music on a broad range of technology issues associated with their business” said Vance Ikezoye, CEO of Audible Magic. “We believe our products and technologies support their vision and we are enthusiastic about the prospect of working with Sony on issues that are so vital to the new media industry.”
Philip R. Wiser, Chief Technology Officer, Sony Music Entertainment, commented, “Audible Magic’s pioneering work in the area of content identification, tracking, and protection has earned them a well-deserved reputation for excellence, and we are delighted to be working with them on a wide range of innovative initiatives including our CAN and P2P filtering programs.”
About Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (SMEI) is a leading global recording company. The three divisions of SMEI are: Sony Music (the U.S. recording company comprised of Automatic Productions, Columbia Records Group, Epic Records, Sony Music Nashville, Legacy Recordings, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Sony Disc Manufacturing, Sony Music Distribution, Sony Music Custom Marketing Group, Sony Music Studios, and Sony Wonder); Sony Music International (active in over 67 countries through its network of wholly owned subsidiaries, joint ventures and licensees); and Sony Classical, which includes the Sony Classical Film & Video division.
About Audible Magic, Inc.
Audible Magic Corporation provides content management and anti-piracy services to the media and entertainment industries as well as to business, governmental, and educational institutions. The company's offerings utilize patented content identification technologies and an extensive reference database of audio and video content. Its digital technology and services are designed to monitor, track, manage, filter, and monetize digital content in all of its forms. The company has been active providing solutions for the Web 2.0 user-generated content video sharing sites.
Audible Magic has long-term relationships with the major record labels that have registered their content in the company’s database that holds one of the largest collections of copyrighted digital song recording fingerprints in the world. Corporate partners include EMI Recorded Music, Palisade Systems, Sony/BMG Music, Universal Music Group, V2 Music, Warner Music Group, and EMI Recorded Music. Audible Magic’s technology is also employed by Grouper, iMesh and PlayLouder MSP music service. Other major market customers include over 70 educational institutions and the media manufacturing industry. Audible Magic’s products include the CopySense P2P Plug-In; CopySense Network Appliance, and RepliCheck.
The Company was founded in 1999, and it operates from offices in Los Gatos, Los Angeles, and Berkeley, California.
For more information, visit Audible Magic’s website at www.audiblemagic.com.
For more information, please contact:
Audible Magic Media & Analyst Inquiries
Sarah McMullenMcMullen & Company
310.283.7907
smcmullen@earthlink.net