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Copyright holders cannot force social networking sites to install filters to prevent illegal file-sharing, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on Thursday.

"The owner of an online social network cannot be obliged to install a general filtering system, covering all its users, in order to prevent the unlawful use of musical and audio-visual work," ruled the judge in the case of SABAM versus Netlog.

The court decided that forcing websites to introduce such filters would breach users' right to protection of personal data and the freedom to receive or impart information.

SABAM, a Belgian music management company that represents authors, composers and publishers, took Netlog, an online social networking platform, to court for allowing its users to share music and video clips on its website.

According to SABAM, Netlog's social network enables users to make copyrighted works available to the public without SABAM's consent and without Netlog paying it any fee. In June 2009, SABAM asked the Court of First Instance of Brussels to order Netlog to block the sharing of musical or audio-visual works from SABAM's repertoire and to pay a penalty of €1000 for each day of delay in complying with that order. But Netlog said that such an order would be tantamount to an obligation to monitor all its users, which is prohibited by the E-Commerce Directive.

The Court of First Instance referred the matter to the ECJ, which decided that in order to comply with SABAM's request, Netlog would have to install a filtering system that would examine all of the files stored on its servers by all its users, identify the files likely to contain copyrighted works, determine which of those files are unlawful and then stop them being made available.

Such preventive monitoring could potentially undermine freedom of information, said the court. Moreover, that monitoring would have no time limit, be directed at all future infringements and be intended to protect not only existing works, but also works in the future. This would require Netlog to install a complicated, costly, permanent computer system at its own expense, which said the court, would be an infringement of Netlog's freedom to conduct its business.

European digital rights group EDRI welcomed the ruling: "The European judges have re-emphasized the importance of not overburdening communication tools with restrictive technologies. This is crucial to protect the fundamental rights value of the Internet as well as its economic significance."

In November, SABAM lost a similar case against Internet service providers.

Follow Jennifer on Twitter at @BrusselsGeek or email tips and comments to jennifer_baker@idg.com.

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Copyright Holders Dealt Blow in EU Social Networking Case

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SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- FriendFinder Networks Inc. (NasdaqGM: FFN - News), a leading internet and technology company providing services in the rapidly expanding markets of social networking, social commerce and web-based video sharing, today is pleased to share market research that affirms the scope of the online dating industry and forecasts the market to exceed $2.5 billion by 2015.  The research report was conducted by Marketdata Enterprises, a Tampa, Florida market research publisher, which has tracked the dating service market since 1998.

"The Marketdata study confirms what we have known for some time - online dating presents a tremendous opportunity for FriendFinder Networks.  Already considered one of the most significant participants in online dating, with properties that include FriendFinder.com, PerfectMatch.com, AsiaFriendFinder.com, SeniorFriendFinder.com, AdultFriendFinder.com, Amigos.com and BigChurch.com, FriendFinder Networks operates more than 40,000 sites, catering to over 528 million registrants.  This robust platform provides us with tremendous coverage and exposure to a strong and growing market," commented Marc Bell, President and CEO of FriendFinder Networks.

Mr. Bell continued, "While all of our sites benefit from a shared technological and operational platform, our focused approach on multiple demographics provides users with an intimate experience focused on the interests, beliefs, and values that are most important to them.  This individualistic approach has allowed FriendFinder Networks to continue to penetrate different areas of the market and establish ourselves as the leader in social networking and dating websites."

According to the study, dating website growth is expected to be 7.2% annually with key drivers that include geographic and mobile application expansion.  FriendFinder Networks is well positioned to address the specific areas driving growth.  For example, AsiaFriendFinder.com is the largest online dating personals site targeted towards Asians with over 34,000,000 members since inception, while Amigos.com is averaging over 75,000 new members each month as users from Brazil and other Latin American countries embrace online dating resources.  Targeted sites based on geography and interests are key drivers that will help propel FriendFinder Networks to further industry leadership. 

In addition, the explosion of smartphone technology has made mobile applications a key component of online dating.  The All FriendFinder App, available on iPhone, Android and other smartphones offers users of any of our sites a way to keep in touch on the go and manage their dating life from the palm of their hand.

While the largest social networking site, Facebook, has gained current publicity because of the recent IPO announcement, FriendFinder Networks is poised to benefit from the continued acceptance of social media connections.  This acceptance rate, proved by the increasing scope of the online dating market, lends itself to big players like FriendFinder Networks and allows for further expansion and penetration in this industry.

SAFE HARBOR

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Actual results may differ from expectations, estimates and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward looking statements as predictions of future events.  Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results.

Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in the Company's most recent filings with the SEC.  All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above and subject to such risk factors discussed in the Company's recent SEC filings.  The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.  The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in their expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the Company's securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction.

ABOUT FRIENDFINDER NETWORKS INC.

FriendFinder Networks Inc. (www.ffn.com) is an internet-based social networking and technology company operating several of the most heavily visited websites in the world, including AdultFriendFinder.com, Amigos.com, AsiaFriendFinder.com, Cams.com, FriendFinder.com, BigChurch.com and SeniorFriendFinder.com, and social commerce company operating JigoCity websites in more than five countries, providing members high quality, daily deals that are relevant to their individual lifestyles. FriendFinder Networks Inc. also produces and distributes original pictorial and video content and engages in brand licensing.

Investor Contact for FriendFinder Networks Inc.
Ezra Shashoua
561-912-7035 or investorrelations@ffn.com

Media Contact for FriendFinder Networks Inc.
Lindsay Trivento
561-912-7010 or ltrivento@ffn.com

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FriendFinder Networks at Forefront of Estimated $2.14 Billion Dating Services Market

LONDON, February 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

- Job site recognises how social networking is helping thousands attain employment

reed.co.uk, one of the UK's leading job sites, is advising thousands of jobseekers up and down the country to utilise and harness social media in their job searches, as the medium is now considered a useful way to bolster employability prospects.

It's widely acknowledged social media is becoming a powerful employability tool for both jobseekers and prospective employers. According to Jobvite, a recruitment software website, 50% of job seekers, now working in sales jobs, in 2010, admitted to using social networking giant Facebook to help look for a new job. A further 26% admitted to using LinkedIn, another leading social networking website, to build up career contacts and gain employment.

Looking at similar findings for a survey of people working in construction in 2011, the figures are far more conclusive of social media's growing popularity. Amongst employees working in construction jobs, 16% of those (who were surveyed by Jobvite) admitted to gaining their employment through social networking websites.

However despite the clear advantages social media platforms offer (wide networking opportunities, up-to-date job offerings, etc)  reed.co.uk claims many jobseekers are in fact oblivious to the fact many prospective employers now use social media to screen applicants.

A recent survey, carried out by social media monitoring service Reppler, found that more than 90% of recruiters and potential employers use or have used social networking websites as part of their employment screening process. Astonishingly 69% of recruiters admitted sleuthing a candidate's social networking profile and later rejecting their application based on the content they found.

However reed.co.uk's new social media guidance tips aim to teach jobseekers how to manage their social media profiles properly; limiting the chance of prospective employers finding content they may well dislike.

Commenting on social media's growing popularity amongst jobseekers, a spokesman from reed.co.uk said today:

"The days of printing stacks of C.Vs and handing them out personally to prospective employers are seemingly over. Social media, as a viable method to attaining employment, has emerged as the new 24/7 jobs fair, providing amazing ways to constantly stay on the radar of prospective employers."

To search a broad selection of jobs, visit http://www.reed.co.uk

About reed.co.uk:

reed.co.uk is the UK's leading online recruitment service, featuring over 110,000 jobs in Manchester, Birmingham and across the UK from more than 8,000 recruiters across 42 industry sectors.

reed.co.uk is the UK's most visited job site and was named by Experian Hitwise as the Number 1 website for Employment & Training sites throughout 2010 and between January and June 2011.

For press enquiries, please contact Lynn Cahillane or Mark Rhodes on +44(0)20-7067-4582.
Dragon Court, 28 Macklin Street, London, WC2B 5LX
Email: news@reedonline.co.uk

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Reed.co.uk Advise Jobseekers to Harness Social Media

12-02-2012 22:51 My dad: plus.google.com Me: profiles.google.com

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