MySpace announced today that it plans to screen user posts to block unauthorized copyrighted music audio recordings from being hosted on the site.

MySpace will automatically screen audio recordings uploaded by community members to their profiles. The technology is designed to let MySpace identify copyrighted music for designated rights holders and let MySpace block the uploading of files containing traditionally copyrighted content.

According to MySpace, the system will let the company more effectively implement its user policy against uploading copyrighted material. Consistent with MySpace’s current policy, individuals who repeatedly attempt to upload unauthorized music will have their accounts permanently deleted.

“MySpace is staunchly committed to protecting artists’ rights – whether those artists are on major labels or are independent acts,” said Chris DeWolfe, CEO and co-founder of MySpace. “This is another important step we’re taking to ensure artists control the content they create.”

MySpace’s move follows similar actions at YouTube. The music industry has announced massive lawsuits against other video hosting companies to force them to adopt filtering measures.

One more sign that YouTube as you know it is dead: the site has quietly purged over 30,000 videos after receiving complaints of copyright infringement.

According to a report in the New York Times, nearly 30,000 clips of TV shows, movies and music videos were taken down after the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers cited copyright infringement.

Now the site is removing hundreds of clips from Comedy Central, including clips from “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,” “The Colbert Report” and “South Park.”

The company, recently acquired by Google, plans to remove infringing content and replace it with ad-supported content from the major music labels and mainstream television and film studios.

Kenpo (Flash site) has introduced 15 new designs for its line of “smart-jackets” that feature iPod controls embedded into the cloth.

Kenpo‚Äôs 2006 line-up of iPod enabled jackets include bubble jackets, sprinter‚Äôs jackets, snowboarding jackets and windbreakers. The jackets are designed to let users listen to and change their tunes using the integrated iPod control panel located on the lower portion of each jacket’s sleeve. Wearers can pause, skip tracks and adjust volume, while leaving their iPod in the jacket’s inner padded pouch.

Blogger Greg Verdinos writes about the irony of the Nielsen BuzzMetrics clients-only CGM Summit 2006, held last week:

“The agenda is cram packed with sessions covering all aspects of Consumer Generated Media CGM including an overview of where we are today, why people do this stuff, where CGM is going in the future, and how exactly marketers can leverage and measure this powerful channel,” writes Verdinos. “Ironically, the confirmation email I received for the event includes this warning:

“Off The Record: the CGM Summit is off the record, so please no blogging, reporting, recording or broadcasting.”

“How can you host an event about consumer generated media and not let your consumers, um, generate media?” he asks.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has published information about how individuals can investigate government agencies. The Bloggers’ FAQ on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) outlines how to use open government laws to get access to records kept by federal agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).”Online journalism makes a unique contribution to America’s vibrant culture of free speech,” said EFF Staff Attorney Marcia Hofmann. “Using the Freedom of Information Act is a powerful way to shed light on government activities and foster critical public debate about the discoveries.”

The guide walks bloggers through making a FOIA request — addressing what to ask for, which government offices must comply, and what you can and cannot obtain through FOIA. It also explains how to put requests on the fast track and get processing fees waived.

Warner Brothers has introduced a Justice League Heroes podcast and video podcast. the podcasts feature the prequel story to a Justice League Heroes videogame that is available on the PlayStation2 and Xbox game systems.

The game features features an original story from award-winning comic book and animation writer Dwayne McDuffie (Static Shock, Justice League, Teen Titans, Damage Control, Deathlok). The slate of voice talent includes: Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Blade II, Justice League TV series) as Batman; Michael Jai White (Spawn, Spawn: The Animation) as Green Lantern; Crispin Freeman (Viewtiful Joe, Kingdom Hearts II) as Superman; Ralph Garman (Family Guy, KROQ-FM Los Angeles’ Kevin & Bean morning show, The Joe Schmo Show) as Green Arrow and more.

Voice actors from the videogame also voice the characters in the podcast comic book prequel, including Perlman, Freeman, and Jai White.

In the first episode, Brainiac has unleashed a plan to turn Gotham City‚Äôs dead into giant killer robots…..

The PodTech Network has announced a new podcast, CalacanisCast, hosted and produced by Jason Calacanis, CEO of Weblogs, Inc. The weekly show will focus on Jason’s insights in new media and technology trends and those of his special guests.
“I’m thrilled to have PodTech and GoDaddy.com as partners,” said Calacanis. “We’re going to have a fun time with the show, and help some kids in need at the same time. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

According to PodTech, the media philanthropy model that the CalacanisCast show represents is “a first example of a sustainable, high-quality media property that generates not only awareness, but monetary support, for philanthropic causes.” Sponsorship revenue for CalacanisCast will underwrite the tuition of disadvantaged youth to attend Bay Ridge Prep, and represents the formation of the Bay Ridge Prep Opportunity Scholarship Fund.

The Tulsa (Oklahoma) Police Department has introduced a podcast intended to help keep citizens up-to-date on crime prevention and other issues. The TPD Podcast will be updated monthly.

The first podcast episode (MP3) is about recruiting. Future podcasts will address personal safety and other police issues.

The Tulsa Police Department is one of the first departments in the United States to use a podcast as a communication.

“It is our goal to use various communication methods in an effort to get our message to the public,” said Police Capt. Travis Yates. “By informing the public on issues such as crime prevention and department programs, we will only improve our efficiency in serving the community.”

via Technology News

The BBC’s Chris Vallance is looking for podcasters to help provide comprehensive coverage of the US mid-term elections.

“We’ll be visiting Connecticut and Pennsylvania and on election night (Nov 7th) in Washington DC – but we can’t be everywhere and there many fascinating races we’d like to cover,” said Vallance. “So we’d like your help in reporting the election – polls and the results on the night of the race will only give us half the story. We’d like to know what it looks like from the ground.”

If you’d like to be a Five Live “Citizen Reporter” during the election, you can contact the BBC at upallnight (at) bbc.co.uk.

Wizzard Software, a company that specializes in speech recognition applications, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement for a $1,750,000 private placement with institutional investors.

Earlier in the week, the company announced that it was acquiring podcast hosting service Libsyn.

“The capital infusion allows us to continue funding our recently announced podcasting acquisitions and will allow us to accelerate the expansion of our podcasting efforts, in which we see tremendous growth potential,” said Chris Spencer, CEO of Wizzard Software.