BEIJING, March 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Youku.com Inc.
(NYSE: YOKU), China's leading
Internet television company, announced today it will join several
of the world's leading Internet and media companies to support a
collaborative set of principles that enable the continued growth
and development of user-generated content online and respect the
intellectual property of content owners. Youku has agreed to
support the Principles for User Generated Content Services
(www.ugcprinciples.com) by implementing industry-leading copyright
protection measures on its website. The Principles call for
cross-industry collaboration among rights holders and internet
companies to achieve the mutually beneficial goals of encouraging
innovation and empowering content creators, while at the same time
respecting intellectual property rights. Youku's support for
the UGC Principles is the most recent undertaking by a Chinese
company to strengthen relations with content owners and encourage
respect for copyright in China.
Youku's "comprehensive content" strategy involves reaching out
to and working with rights holders to offer a broad selection of
fully licensed content alongside user-generated and self-produced
content. Building on its solid base of 1,500 media partners
in China, Youku is increasing its
investment in international copyrighted content. Youku has
established partnerships with international copyright holders, and
is in various stages of negotiations with other major international
content owners.
"Youku enjoys good relationships with both Chinese and
international copyright holders," said Youku Chairman and CEO
Victor Koo. "As we form closer
partnerships with rights owners, we are also making sure our users
have authorized access to the content that they want, wherever and
whenever they want it. To that end, we are working with
content companies to secure rights to their titles, while also
aggressively defending those rights through robust screening
mechanisms to prevent copyright infringement. We are
committed to working with creators and copyright holders, and we
see our support for the UGC Principles as a way for us to reaffirm
that commitment."
Youku launched China's first
fingerprint-based content identification system in early 2010, and
recently made upgrades to the system that will allow for real-time
updates to the system's database of copyrighted content. The
new state-of-the-art filtering system, together with other content
protection measures Youku is adopting, will give Youku
unprecedented capabilities among Chinese UGC-centric websites to
identify and prevent digital theft -- another key element of its
support for the UGC Principles.
"We are pleased to see Youku proactively adopting
industry-leading filtering and other content protection measures in
compliance with the UGC Principles and in the process moving to
protect the countless workers around the world who depend on
creativity and ingenuity to earn their livings," said Daniel
Mandil, Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief
Content Protection Officer of the Motion Picture Association of
America. "Youku's successful implementation of the UGC
Principles will underscore Youku's commitment to being a leader in
protecting intellectual property rights in China. Support from Youku and other
leading sites is crucial to ensure that UGC-centric websites remain
focused on highlighting the original creations of their users,
while at the same time respecting the innovation, creativity and
intellectual property of U.S. copyright owners and, most
importantly, protecting jobs."
About Youku
Youku.com Inc. is China's
leading Internet television company. Our Internet television
platform enables users to search, view and share high-quality video
content quickly and easily across multiple devices. Youku, which
stands for "what's best and what's cool" in Chinese, is the most
recognized online video brand in China. Youku's American depositary shares,
each representing 18 of our Class A ordinary shares, are traded on
NYSE under the symbol "YOKU."
About the UGC Principles
The UGC Principles reflect a collaboration among leading
commercial copyright owners and services providing user-uploaded
and user-generated audio and video content to establish principles
that will foster an online environment that promotes the promises
and benefits of UGC services and protects the rights of copyright
owners. Major copyright owners that support the UGC
Principles include: CBS Corporation, Disney, Fox
Entertainment Group, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures, and Viacom.
The UGC Principles are also supported by Youku, along with
several other UGC services. These companies are united in the
belief that the UGC Principles, taken as a whole, strike a balance
that will result in a more robust, content-rich online experience
for all. For more information about the UGC Principles,
see www.ugcprinciples.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These
statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S.
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as
"will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans,"
"believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements.
Statements that are not historical facts, including
statements about Youku's beliefs and expectations, are
forward-looking statements. Among other things, quotations from
management in this announcement contain forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
contained in any forward- looking statements. A number of factors
could cause actual results to differ materially from those
contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not
limited to the risks included in our registration statement on Form
F-1, as amended, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
All information provided in this press release is as of the date of
this press release, and Youku undertakes no duty to update such
information, except as required under applicable law.
For more information, please
contact:
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Media Relations:
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Jean Shao
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Director, International Public
Relations
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Youku.com Inc.
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Tel: (+8610) 5885-1881
x7128
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Email:
shaodan@youku.com
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Investor
Relations:
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Ryan Cheung
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Corporate Finance
Director
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Youku.com Inc.
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Tel: (+8610) 5885-1881
x6090
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Email:
ryan.cheung@youku.com
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Caroline Straathof
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IR Inside
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Tel: (+31) 6-54624301
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Email:
caroline.straathof@irinside.com
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SOURCE Youku.com Inc.