The International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP), the global trade organization representing the music publishing industry, has launched the ICMP Anti-Piracy Platform (APP) in partnership with piracy tracking startup MUSO.
The platform aims to counter what they call “the pervasive issue of Illegal musical content online”.
The news comes a year after London-based MUSOreceived a £3.2 million ($3.9m) investment from UK-based Puma Private Equity.
MUSO’s services are used by the likes of Amazon Studios, National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), NOS, Lionsgate, MNRK (formally eOne Music), Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe, and more.
Via the new ‘ICMP APP’, the org aims to minimize the unlawful use of musical works online for ICMP member companies.
The platform will use MUSO Protect, an AI-automated content protection service. The system identifies and issues ‘takedown’ notices against infringing content, with many of these notices in Europe now classified as ‘stay down’ notices in line with Article 17 of the EU Copyright Directive.
Following the removal, the APP will provide users with a dashboard featuring reports on successful removals.
Additionally, MUSO and ICMP will further team up on compiling piracy data, bolstering the trade body’s efforts with governments and authorities worldwide.
The move is in line with recent measures by ICMP to advance new copyright and digital laws across multiple jurisdictions including Article 17 of the EU Copyright Directive, the EU Digital Services Act, and the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which all aim to combat the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted digital content and sheet music.
ICMP says it is tackling these issues via regulation and technology.
“ICMP’s core causes are the defense of music rights and ensuring opportunities for growth worldwide. The new ICMP Anti-Piracy Platform powered by MUSO boosts those missions. MUSO’s technology is sophisticated and swift to use, As of today, it’s available to ICMP members to reduce illegal use of music online. This is great news for the music publishing industry and its songwriter and composer partners, of every genre, worldwide,” said ICMP Director General John Phelan.
“MUSO’s mission has always been to empower rights holders to deal with piracy to enable them to maximize the value of their Intellectual Property.”
Andy Chatterley, MUSO
“We’re delighted to announce this partnership with ICMP. MUSO’s mission has always been to empower rights holders to deal with piracy to enable them to maximize the value of their Intellectual Property. The ICMP are a proactive and forward looking trade body who consistently seek to defend the value and rights of their members and we’re excited about the opportunity to support them in this endeavor,” said MUSO CEO Andy Chatterley.
ICMP’s members span major and independent music companies, along with 76 national trade associations across six continents. The organization said it represents 90% of the world’s music, comprising over 100 million tracks across all genres.
In 2021, ICMP generated more than USD $13.5 billion in revenue by serving as a link between music creators and global markets. Earlier this year, ICMP pushed for Meta to resolve its dispute with the Italian Society of Authors and Publishers (SIAE), leading to the return of tens of thousands of music by Italian songwriters on Meta-owned platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
ICMP Honorary President and Classical Expert Group Co-Chair Chris Butler said: “Tackling graphic rights infringement and digital piracy of sheet music has been a focus of our recent work on the ICMP Expert Group. As a publisher with a global footprint I see that online infringement remains very much an international issue in nature, requiring international solutions. The launch of the ICMP APP with MUSO technology will be a highly useful tool for all music companies. We urge all ICMP members to sign up.”
“As a publisher with a global footprint I see that online infringement remains very much an international issue in nature, requiring international solutions. The launch of the ICMP APP with MUSO technology will be a highly useful tool for all music companies.”
Chris Butler, ICMP
ICMP Director and Classical Expert Group Co-Chair Kathy Marsh added: As founder of one of the world’s largest graphic rights companies and as ICMP’s representative of the Music Publishers’ Association of the USA, I know firsthand the damage online piracy is doing to our industry.”
“The new ICMP Anti-Piracy Platform tackles illegal content across a very wide range of online platforms – from search engines to websites, payment services to social media. Thanks to Andy and his first-class team at MUSO for this tech driven solution. I encourage all ICMP members to participate in this global security system that protects their rights and music,” added Marsh.
