Companies join forces against pirates

Japanese quartet launch new anti-pirate system

By MARK SCHILLING

Five Japanese entertainment companies, including distrib Toho and toon houses Studio Ghibli and Sunrise, will jointly launch a system for ferreting out pirated content on the Internet in China.

Skedded to start in mid-November, the system will automatically identify pics and toons that have been uploaded without permission from rights holders.

Group members will then ask the hosting site to remove the content. They plan to extend the monitor system to sites in Japan and elsewhere.

Other companies, including TV networks and major record labels, reportedly are considering joining the group.