Microsoft shutters video site

Company adding copyright filters

By BEN FRITZ

Microsoft is stopping public access to its Soapbox viral video site just a month after launching it as the software giant adds tools to filter copyrighted content that users upload.

Decision marks a shift in strategy for Microsoft, which just a few weeks ago sent a letter to media companies saying that it would offer advanced tools allowing them to find copyright-infringing material and request takedowns. In interviews at the time, company insiders said they didn't think any filtering technology was good enough to use (Daily Variety, March 1).

But the company has apparently been convinced that it needs to filter videos -- a decision most likely spurred by its participation in the NBC Universal-News Corp. joint video venture.

"We'll still have advanced tools to help them find stuff that may infringe, but we're hopeful that a hybrid approach will keep us one step ahead of the curve," said Adam Sohn, director of global sales and marketing for MSN, Microsoft's online portal.

Microsoft hopes to relaunch Soapbox along with filtering technology it is licensing from Audible Magic in 30-60 days. By the summer it will likely be integrated with the videos MSN starts adding from the joint venture.

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