Tech giants Google, Microsoft and Yahoo have agreed to work with the White House to combat online piracy and counterfeiting.
The companies will work with the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), while other networks have agreed a set of ‘best practices’ that allow them to turn away business from websites that sell fake goods or violate copyright law.
Microsoft has also released Best Practice Guidelines for ad networks to address piracy and counterfeiting, which will be implemented in the coming months.
Microsoft VP of US government affairs Fred Humphries said: "Microsoft is pleased to be a part of this collective effort to combat piracy, and to help ensure a healthy advertising ecosystem. We applaud the Administration’s leadership on intellectual property and innovation, as well as the public-private collaboration that made these Best Practices a reality."
Google said it develops and deploys antipiracy solutions by using technology like YouTube’s Content ID and copyright removal tools for web search.
White House Property Enforcement Coordinator Victoria Espinel said the administration supports voluntary efforts by the private sector to reduce infringement, and welcomes the initiative brought forward by the companies to establish standards to combat online piracy and counterfeiting by reducing financial incentives associated with infringement.
"It is critical that such efforts be undertaken in a manner that is consistent with all applicable laws and with the Administration’s broader Internet policy principles emphasising privacy, free speech, fair process, and competition," Espinel said.
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"We encourage the companies participating to continue to work with all interested stakeholders, including creators, rightholders, and public interest groups, to ensure that their practices are transparent and fully consistent with the democratic values that have helped the Internet to flourish."
