CDSA

The Content Delivery & Security Association (CDSA), the worldwide forum advocating the innovative and responsible delivery and storage of entertainment, software, and information content, has launched a new resource for studios and media companies who develop intellectual property, as well as those who license IP and sell associated products via brick and mortar or e-commerce channels.

Dubbed “Spoiler Alert,” the online resource is an evolving compilation of the most relevant issues causing IP leaks in the licensing process, from both sides of the licensor/licensee relationship, forged from real experiences of those in the licensing industry.

The resource, developed by CDSA’s Copyright & Licensing Working Group (CLWG), aims to provide security guidance to those seeking to establish a licensing relationship involving confidential IP, as well as practical advice on how to triage and reinforce existing IP security practices that have fallen short.

The resource launched at a reception during the Licensing Expo 2023 in Las Vegas.

“The idea came about from some of our top studios, licensors and licensees who identified trends and gaps in their own security protocols,” the CLWG said. “By coming together as a single, unified industry effort, we hope to impact the copyright and licensing industry in a big way — allowing us to align on the same best practices and recommended security protocols. It’s a win-win.”

The resource offers examples, preventative and detective controls, and best practices for more than a dozen intellectual property risk categories, from early release at retail, to internal threats.

Ranking the threats from low to high, the resource is a culmination of the most frequent issues the industry faces, on every side of the IP equation.

“The risk level depends on the type of leak and content,” the CLWG said. “Anything we work on as an industry has a minimum standard of security required — evergreen content if leaked would fall into low risk. Embargoed content generally would fall under moderate unless otherwise marked as spoiler. High risk content would contain spoiler content — content that is not to be prior to entertainment release.”

CDSA and the CLWG anticipate updating the resource at least once a year, with an annual review of the best practices and recommendations, along with a survey of CDSA members to pulse check what the industry is experiencing.

The debut iteration of “Spoiler Alert” considers many of the IP leak issues stemming from the impact COVID-19 had to the media and entertainment business, including internal and external security gaps tied to theatrical releases, as film slates shifted, and merchandise campaigns were recalibrated accordingly.

“As the copyright and licensing working group within the CDSA, we want to extend an olive branch to other licensors, licensees, retailers, etc. in the industry to further our own knowledge of other issues companies are facing as well as continuous adaptation of the top leak issues,” the CLWG said. “The industry is shifting every day and our success is dependent on keeping a handle on emerging issues and threats.”

To access “Spoiler Alert” click here.