{{short description|UK anti-piracy company}} {{Advert|date=June 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}} {{Infobox organization | name = Web Sheriff | logo = Sheriffbadge.png | caption = The Web Sheriff logo, which reads 'Protecting Your Rights on the Internet' | type = | predecessor = | successor = | formation = {{start date and age|df=yes|2000|10|19}}<ref name="CH">{{cite web | url = https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/04093131 | title = WEB SHERIFF LIMITED | publisher = Companies House UK | accessdate = June 10, 2016}}</ref> | registration_id = 04093131<ref name="CH"/> | founder = John Giacobbi | headquarters = {{Mf-adr | city = Pewsey | region = Wiltshire | nation = UK}}<ref name="CH"/> | location = London, United Kingdom | region_served = International | leader_title = Director | leader_name = John Edouard Giacobbi<ref name="CH"/> | leader_title2 = Secretary | leader_name2 = Robert Arthur Davage | purpose = Intellectual property rights | products = | services = Copyright enforcement, digital rights management, website building, hosting and management, video editing | revenue = | owner = Web Sheriff Limited | num_employees = 20 | subsid = | website = {{URL|websheriff.com}} | footnotes = }} '''Web Sheriff''' is an anti-piracy company based in the United Kingdom that provides intellectual property, copyright and privacy rights protection services. The company monitors various websites that host links to downloads of music and film. Web Sheriff has been in operation since 2000, with two offices in the UK.
The company was founded by intellectual property lawyer John Giacobbi,<ref name="latimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-jun-09-la-et-web-sheriff-20110609-story.html|title=Piracy watchdog's mild bite|date=9 June 2011|last=Lewis|first=Randy|journal=Los Angeles Times|access-date=29 November 2011}}</ref> who acts as its managing director. Web Sheriff sends legal take-down notices to BitTorrent and other file sharing sites.<ref name="BBbiz">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.a2im.org/downloads/WebSheriffBillboard.pdf|title=New Sheriff in Town|magazine=Billboard Upfront|date=1 July 2011|accessdate=22 August 2011|archive-date=7 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007191554/http://www.a2im.org/downloads/WebSheriffBillboard.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="MensHealth">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.menshealth.com/health-headlines/the-most-hated-man-on-the-internet/2011/04/12|title=The Most Hated Man on the Internet|publisher=Men's Health|author=Daniels, Andrew|date=12 April 2011|accessdate=12 April 2011|archive-date=13 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110413235947/http://blogs.menshealth.com/health-headlines/the-most-hated-man-on-the-internet/2011/04/12|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to the ''Los Angeles Times'', Web Sheriff is a "leading advocate of the soft sell" in the anti-piracy industry.<ref name="latimes"/>
==Description== Web Sheriff performs various copy protection services.<ref name="Rolling Stone">''Rolling Stone'', "Battle Over Online Piracy Gets a Sheriff", Andy Greene, RS 1077, April 2009</ref> These include protection from copyright infringement,<ref name="Watching you">{{cite news|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/article-23671006-off-the-record-web-sheriff-is-watching-you.do|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006002521/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/article-23671006-off-the-record-web-sheriff-is-watching-you.do|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 October 2010|title=Off the Record: Web Sheriff is watching you|journal=Evening Standard|date=4 March 2009|accessdate=12 March 2010}}</ref> libel,<ref name="villagevoice">{{cite news|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-12-10/music/meet-the-web-sheriff/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211052617/http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-12-10/music/meet-the-web-sheriff/|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 December 2008|newspaper=The Village Voice|title=Meet the Web Sheriff|author=Weiss, Dan|date=10 December 2008|accessdate=14 March 2011}}</ref> cyber-bullying,<ref name="NEtelegraph">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/social-media/9179106/Noel-Edmonds-confronts-Facebook-troll.html|title=Noel Edmonds confronts Facebook troll|date=1 April 2012|newspaper=telegraph.co.uk|accessdate=1 April 2012}}</ref><ref name="NPR">{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2012/04/15/150667557/british-attempt-to-squash-online-bullying|title=British Attempt to Squash Online Bullying|last=Reeves|first=Philip|publisher=NPR|location=London|date=15 April 2012|accessdate=25 April 2012}}</ref> identity theft privacy issues of social media, policing of trading sites<ref name="Esquire Magazine">''Esquire Magazine'', UK edition, "Meet the Web Sheriff", August 2009</ref> and recovery of fraudulently registered domain names.<ref name="celebrityaccess"> {{cite news|url=http://encore.celebrityaccess.com/index.php?encoreId=312&articleId=39802|title= Web Sheriff Goes To The Mats Against Russian Clone|journal=Encore|date=4 July 2011|accessdate=17 July 2011}}</ref> It also furnishes online security for concert tours.<ref name="Pollstar">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.pollstar.com/blogs/news/archive/2011/03/10/759184.aspx|title=Meet the Online Police|date=10 March 2011|magazine=Pollstar|author=Reinartz, Joe|accessdate=10 March 2011}}</ref>
==Operating methods== Web Sheriff uses proprietary software and web crawler programs to search the Internet, using human auditing to determine the type of site that is posting its clients' copyrighted material.<ref name="thefader">{{cite news |url=http://www.thefader.com/2011/04/25/respect-yourself-interview-with-the-web-sheriff/|title=Respect Yourself: Interview with the Web Sheriff|newspaper=The Fader|author=Cooper, Duncan|date=25 April 2011|accessdate=25 April 2011}}</ref> It relies heavily on phone calls and relationship building<ref name="cnet news">{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9784193-7.html|website=CNET|title=Web Sheriff Doing it different than Media Defender|author=Sandoval, Greg|date=25 September 2007|accessdate=14 March 2011}}</ref> and when locating unauthorized links it targets the persons running the sites.<ref name="spokesman">[http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1258926/facing_the_music_theres_a_new_antifilesharing_sheriff_in_town/index.html]{{cite news |date=18 February 2008 |title=Facing the Music: There's a New Anti-File-Sharing Sheriff in Town, and He's Getting Results |work=The Spokesman-Review}}</ref> The supposed offending party is sent a take-down notice before further action is taken.<ref name="cnet news"/> Some Torrent sites and file-sharing sites such as MediaFire and RapidShare provide access to the company to remove infringing content itself.<ref name="BBCstars">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14536664|title=Stars step up wars on music leaks|publisher=BBC|last =Youngs|first=Ian|date=16 August 2011|accessdate=17 August 2011}}</ref>
The ''Los Angeles Times'' described the company's approach as representing "a sharp turn in the recording industry's life-and-death struggle with piracy, one driven largely by performers and their managers rather than the record companies."<ref name="latimes"/> When it contracts to protect new music releases, the company encourages the artists it represents to give fans several tracks ahead of the release.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2009/aug/20/artists-albums-leaked|title=Behind the music: How can artists prevent their work from being leaked?|newspaper=The Guardian|date=20 August 2009|last=Lindvall|first=Helienne|accessdate=13 January 2012}}</ref>
==History== Web Sheriff was founded in 2000 by former music attorney and industry consultant<ref name="MensHealth"/> John Giacobbi.<ref name="MensHealth"/><ref name="lasplash">{{cite web|url=http://www.lasplash.com/publish/Home_Electronics/the-web-sheriff-a-new-kind-of-enforcement.php|title=The Web Sheriff: A New Kind of Enforcement|publisher=lasplash.com|last=Stevens|first=Serita|accessdate=3 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="hollywoodreporter">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/piracy-magnolia-pictures-takedown-notices-twitter-286406|title=Hollywood Piracy Watch: Magnolia Pictures Sends the Most Takedown Notices to Twitter|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|last=Gardner|first=Eriq|date=1 February 2012|accessdate=1 February 2012}}</ref>
Web Sheriff was hired by Prince in September 2007 to help him "disappear entirely from the internet."<ref name="Rolling Stone"/> The star's spokesman related that "Prince believes strongly that as an artist the music rights must remain with the artist and thus copyrights should be protected across the board." "Very few artists have ever taken this kind of action over their rights." Web Sheriff announced it would launch lawsuits against YouTube, eBay, and The Pirate Bay on behalf of Prince if they refused compliance in removing links to his unauthorized photos, videos, and music.<ref name="BBbiz"/><ref name="BBCPrince">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6993752.stm|work=BBC News|date=13 September 2007|title=Prince get tough on web pirates|access-date=20 March 2010}}</ref><ref name="BBCRadio 6">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/news/20070913_prince.shtml|title=Prince gets tough online|publisher=BBC Radio 6|date=13 September 2007|accessdate=2 April 2010}}</ref> Peter Sunde, co-founder of The Pirate Bay, dismissed the threats, stating that American law was not applicable in Sweden.<ref>{{cite news | first=Fredrik |last=Söderling | title=Prince stämmer Pirate Bay | url=http://www.dn.se/ekonomi/prince-pirate-bay-1.686275 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729042100/http://www.dn.se/ekonomi/prince-pirate-bay-1.686275 | url-status=dead | archive-date=29 July 2012 |newspaper=Dagens Nyheter | location=Stockholm, Sweden | date=15 February 2008 | accessdate=17 February 2008 | language=Swedish }}</ref> YouTube complied by removing over 2,000 videos from their site and eBay removed more than 300 auctions.<ref name="billboard:Prince">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1049302/prince-to-sue-youtube-ebay-over-unauthorized-content|magazine=Billboard|title=Prince to sue YouTube, eBay over unauthorized content|accessdate=12 March 2010}}</ref><ref name="guardianuk">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/sep/13/digitalmedia.business|newspaper=The Guardian|title=Prince seeks to 'Reclaim the net'|date=13 September 2007|accessdate=12 March 2010 |location=London | first=Jemima | last=Kiss}}</ref><ref name="prince sues internet">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/prince-sues-internet-sites-for-breaching-his-copyright-402336.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=14 September 2007|title=Prince sues internet sites for breaching his copyright|author= Byrne, Ciar|accessdate=18 August 2010}}</ref> In November 2007, three fan sites were given the notice to remove all images of the singer, his lyrics, and "anything linked to Prince's likeness".<ref name="canadaprince">{{cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/technology/story.html?id=dca23b94-518a-49c0-8196-9295e293520e&k=83626|title=Prince moves to sue fan web sites|agency=Reuters|location=London|last=Casiato|first=Paul|date=7 November 2007|accessdate=2 February 2012}}</ref> Some of the Prince fans fought back, formed their own organization called "Prince Fans United" and hired an attorney.<ref name="Rolling Stone"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7082684.stm|title= Prince sites face legal threats|publisher=BBC|date=7 July 2007|access-date=1 October 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/prince-releases-diss-track-as-battle-with-fans-gets-funky-20071109|title=Prince Releases Diss Track As Battle With Fans Gets Funky|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=9 November 2007|accessdate=11 January 2012}}</ref> Multiple unauthorized overseas online sites selling merchandise featuring Prince were shut down.<ref name="rsprince">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/princes-message-to-everyone-stop-bootlegging-my-stuff-20070914|title=Prince's Message to Everyone: Stop Bootlegging My Stuff|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Frehsee|first=Nicole|date=14 September 2007|accessdate=8 January 2012}}</ref>
In 2008 the company was hired by Bryan Adams to take down fan sites and tribute bands as well as the owner of the domain name pointlookout.com that had nothing to do with the artist.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fiveash |first=Kelly |title=Bryan Adams pulls a Prince on fan sites |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/27/canada_rocker/ |work=The Register |date=27 Oct 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sandoval |first1=Greg |title=Bryan Adams follows Prince in challenging fan sites |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/bryan-adams-follows-prince-in-challenging-fan-sites/ |website=CNET |date=October 27, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Allemann |first1=Andrew |title=Berkens' company sues musician Bryan Adams over bizarre trademark claims |date=11 July 2017 |url=https://domainnamewire.com/2017/07/11/berkens-company-sues-musician-bryan-adams-bizarre-trademark-claims/ |publisher=Domain Name Wire |accessdate=26 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Worldwide Media, Inc.vs Bryan Adams and Adams Communications Inc. |url=https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.flsd.509736/gov.uscourts.flsd.509736.1.0.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Exhibit A |url=https://archive.org/download/gov.uscourts.flsd.509736/gov.uscourts.flsd.509736.1.1.pdf}}</ref>
In 2016, the company was hired by Axl Rose to remove an unflattering picture by claiming the copyright belonged to Axl Rose and not the photographer.<ref>{{cite news |title=Appetite for destruction: Axl Rose demands Google remove 'fat' photos |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jun/06/axl-rose-google-remove-photos |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Axl Rose Wants His "Fat" Photos Removed From the Internet |url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/axl-rose-wants-his-fat-photos-removed-from-the-192330948.html |publisher=Yahoo |accessdate=28 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Axl Rose demands Google take down "Fat Axl Rose" photo |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/axl-rose-demands-google-take-down-fat-axl-rose-photo |work=CBS News |date=June 8, 2016}}</ref>
==Reception== Music fans and bloggers often initially respond angrily when first approached by Web Sheriff on its clients' official and unofficial forums. According to the ''Evening Standard'', "Music blogging sites are littered with comments with the Sheriff's contact details at the top, thanking bloggers for obeying the rules." Fans sometimes interpret this as Web Sheriff saying, "I've got my eye on you."<ref name="Watching you"/> The company reports that eventually most of the fans tend to respect the wishes of their favored artists by cooperating.<ref name="cnet news"/> As related by ''The Guardian'', The Prodigy fans on the brainkiller forum engaged with Web Sheriff on a thread that lasted through 18 pages. Some of the fans who had been hostile at the beginning, then asked what they could do to help the band.<ref name="WS guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/oct/02/web-sheriff|newspaper=The Guardian|title=Web Sheriff is Watching You|date=12 October 2009|accessdate=12 March 2010 | location=London | first=Helienne |last=Lindvall}}</ref><ref name="ITTCanada">{{cite web|url=http://www.itworldcanada.com/news/web-sheriff-fights-music-piracy-with-social-media/143069|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508134711/http://www.itworldcanada.com/news/web-sheriff-fights-music-piracy-with-social-media/143069|url-status=usurped|archive-date=8 May 2011|publisher=itworldcanada.com|title=Web Sheriff fights music piracy|last=Lau|first=Kathleen|date=4 May 2011 |accessdate=28 August 2011}}</ref>
Web Sheriff's method of using a "velvet glove approach" to appeal to fans has been said by Randy Lewis with the ''Los Angeles Times'' to have notable successes, including Lady Gaga's ''Born This Way'' and Adele's ''21''.<ref name="latimes"/> This journalist also notes that despite these examples of the success of the "diplomatic strategy", the company's gentle approach still has skeptics, with some critics calling it naïve: Brad Buckles, an executive in copyright enforcement with RIAA, was quoted as saying: "It's certainly well-intended and may work in some cases. The problem is in many, many cases, you're dealing with people who have no respect whatsoever for the intellectual property of record labels or the artists themselves."<ref name="latimes"/> A ''Billboard'' journalist concludes that to appeal to sites that post links to unauthorized music and engaging with fans and redirecting them to authorized content by the artist is a "strategy with a future if implemented properly."<ref name="BBbiz"/>
== See also == * Copyfraud
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[https://www.websheriff.com/ Web Sheriff official website] *[http://www.blogtalkradio.com/syndicatednews/2011/03/20/americana-john-mceuen-interviews-john-giaccobi--europes-web-sheriff AMERICANA; John McEuen interviews John Giacobbi - Europe's Web Sheriff] Syndicatednews.net - 20 March 2011
Category:Business services companies established in 2000 Category:Online companies of the United Kingdom Category:Copyright enforcement companies Category:Computer security companies Category:Intellectual property organizations