The WIPO Center’s neutral dispute resolution process within Pex’s Attribution Engine equips the entire creator ecosystem with the first-ever solution to quickly resolve digital copyright disputes
LOS ANGELES, September 30, 2021 — Today, Pex, the trusted global leader in digital rights technology, announces a partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center providing an industry first — an impartial human review system for copyright infringement to all of those who create and house content, including creators, rightsholders, and platforms.
A universal solution capable of resolving rights conflicts has yet to exist, making dispute resolution over the use of copyrighted material on user-generated content (UGC) platforms a frustrating and inconsistent experience for all those involved. Creators risk having engaging content removed for potential infringement, rightsholders are limited in efficient ways to manage their copyrighted content, and most platforms lack the resources to properly tackle copyright violation disputes. The few leading platforms who have built dispute tools themselves still struggle, as self-imposed systems make gray area decisions difficult and can be perceived as biased.
Pex in collaboration with the WIPO Center provides platforms, rightsholders, and content creators with the first neutral, third-party copyright dispute resolution service as part of Attribution Engine — the real-time marketplace that identifies, attributes, and licenses copyrighted content before it’s published. The impartial dispute system ensures copyrighted work is protected, while taking the burden off platforms who need to provide ‘best efforts’ in content management and would otherwise be labored by content moderation costs.
“Creating this innovative procedure for copyright disputes solves an incredibly technical and legal challenge that has long impacted creators, rightsholders, and platforms,” says Rasty Turek, founder and CEO of Pex. “It’s an honor to partner with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, the global expert in intellectual property dispute resolution, in providing the full creator economy with an independent assessment for copyright dispute.”
A specialized agency of the United Nations servicing 193 member states, WIPO is the global forum for intellectual property (IP) services, policy, information, and cooperation. The WIPO Center offers alternative dispute resolution (ADR) options to court litigation, enabling parties to efficiently settle their IP and technology disputes.
When Attribution Engine identifies a copyright match on a platform, it issues a license based on the rightsholder’s wishes. If a creator believes their content is clear of copyright infringement, they can raise a dispute in order to clear the content for distribution. Attribution Engine then verifies if the claim is valid and informs the rightsholder. If escalation is needed, either party can request that a copyright expert, appointed by the WIPO Center, reviews and decides if a use is infringing or if it falls under an exception to copyright law. The WIPO Center maintains a list of external experts specialized in digital copyright and content. The platform is indemnified by Pex from any legal risk once they comply with the panel’s decision.
By equipping Pex’s dispute resolution process with the WIPO Center’s appointed copyright experts, platforms won’t have to make difficult judgment calls on whether content is infringing copyright, creators are empowered to publish content with the confidence that it won’t be taken down later, and rightsholders can monitor and capitalize on the content they own.
Learn more about Pex’s Attribution Engine and how it’s enabling the fair and transparent use of copyrighted content online.
About Pex
Pex is the trusted global leader in digital rights technology, enabling the first real-time marketplace for copyrighted content. With Pex’s advanced licensing infrastructure, platforms can manage and license content at scale, allowing users to upload freely, while respecting copyright. In return, rightsholders are able to monitor and capitalize on the content they own. Pex is on a mission to support the creator economy with fair and transparent licensing. For more information, follow us on Twitter or visit www.pex.com.
