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{{Infobox company
{{short description|UK anti-piracy company}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{POV|talk=NPOV concern|date=June 2019}}
{{Advert|date=June 2019}}
}}

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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Web Sheriff
| name = Web Sheriff
| logo = [[File:Sheriffbadge.png]]
| logo = Sheriffbadge.png
| caption = Protecting your rights on the Internet<br/>Who You Gonna Call
| caption = The Web Sheriff logo, which reads 'Protecting Your Rights on the Internet'
| type =
| type =
| genre =
| fate =
| predecessor =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| 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>
| foundation = 2000
| registration_id = 04093131<ref name="CH"/>
| founder =John Giacobbi
| defunct =
| founder = John Giacobbi
| headquarters = {{Mf-adr | city = Pewsey | region = Wiltshire | nation = UK}}<ref name="CH"/>
| location_city = [[London]]
| location_city = [[London]]
| location_country = [[United Kingdom]]
| location_country = United Kingdom
| area_served =International
| area_served = International
| leader_title = Director
| key_people =John Giacobbi, Steve Ochard
| leader_name = John Edouard Giacobbi<ref name="CH"/>
| industry = Internet policing
| leader_title2 = Secretary
| leader_name2 = Robert Arthur Davage
| purpose = [[Intellectual property rights]]
| products =
| products =
⚫
| services = Copyright enforcement, [[digital rights management]], website building, hosting and management, video editing
| production =
⚫
| services = Copyright enforcement, building websites, producing video edits
| revenue =
| revenue =
⚫
| owner = Web Sheriff Limited
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| aum =
| assets =
| equity =
⚫
| owner = Web Sheriff Corporation
| num_employees = 20
| num_employees = 20
| parent =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| subsid =
| homepage = http://www.websheriff.com/
| homepage = {{URL|websheriff.com}}
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
| intl = yes
}}
}}
'''Web Sheriff''' is an [[Copy protection#Anti-piracy|anti-piracy]] company based in the United Kingdom that provides [[intellectual property]], [[copyright]] and [[privacy]] rights protection services. The company monitors various [[website]]s 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 [[management|managing director]]. Web Sheriff sends legal [[Notice and take down|take-down notices]] to [[BitTorrent (company)|BitTorrent]] and other [[peer-to-peer file sharing|file sharing]] sites.<ref name="BBbiz">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.a2im.org/downloads/WebSheriffBillboard.pdf|title=New Sheriff in Town|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] Upfront|date=1 July 2011|accessdate=22 August 2011}}</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 (magazine)|Men's Health]] |author= Daniels, Andrew|date=12 April 2011|accessdate=12 April 2011}}</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"/>
'''Web Sheriff''' is an Internet policing company based in the [[United Kingdom]] that provides intellectual property and privacy rights protection services. The company was founded in 2000, by John Giacobbi, who manages the firm with a staff of twenty employees.<ref name="villagevoice"/><ref name="Rolling Stone">''[[Rolling Stone]]'', "Battle Over Online Piracy Gets a Sheriff", Andy Greene, RS 1077, April 2009</ref>


==Description==
==Description==
Web Sheriff performs various [[copy protection]] [[service (economics)|service]]s.<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|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/|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">
Web Sheriff was founded by [[lawyer|attorney]], John Giacobbi in 2000 and Steve Orchard, [[chief executive officer|CEO]] for [[Quidem]] serves as its chairman.<ref name="SOguardian">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jun/18/cn-group-sells-radio-stations|publisher=''[[The Guardian]]''|title=CN group sells five radio stations to Quidem|author=Luft, Oliver|date=2009-06-18|accessdate=2011-01-26}}</ref>
{{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==
The company performs online rights management services including [[copyright infringement]] and [[libel]].<ref name="JG/MC">{{cite web|url=http://musiciancoaching.com/music-business/how-to-fight-music-piracy/|publisher=musiciancoaching.com|title=A Kinder, Gentler & More Effective War On Piracy|date=2010-07-06|last=Goetz|first=Rick|accessdate=2010-10-02-}}</ref><ref name="Esquire Magazine"/> It monitors [[blog]]s, [[BitTorrent (protocol)|BitTorrent]] trackers, [[file-sharing]] sites, [[YouTube]], film-sharing sites and [[website]]s that host links to [[downloads]] of copyrighted music and film.<ref name="cnet news">{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9784193-7.html|publisher=[[CNET]]|title=Web Sheriff Doing it different than Media Defender|author=Sandoval, Greg|date=2007-09-25|accessdate=2011-03-14}}</ref> It performs services that are reported to protect [[record label]]s, [[musicians|music artists]] and [[film distributor|film companies]] when releasing new material. It also provides design, website build and maintenance services <ref name="villagevoice">{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-12-10/music/meet-the-web-sheriff/|publisher=''[[The Village Voice]]''|title=Meet the Web Sheriff|author=Weiss, Dan|date=2008-12-10|accessdate=2011-03-14}}</ref> as well as online security for the live broadcasts of concerts.<ref name="Pollstar">{{cite web|url=http://www.pollstar.com/blogs/news/archive/2011/03/10/759184.aspx|title=Meet the Online Police|date=2011-03-10|publisher=Pollstar|author=Reinartz, Joe|accessdate=2011-03-10}}</ref> It provides video editing services and manufactures [[watermark|watermarked]] CDs and DVDs and provides individually watermarked streams of audio and video for journalists. <ref name="JG/MC"/><ref name="villagevoice"/> The company also recovers fraudulently registered [[domain names]].<ref name="celebrityaccess">
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>
{{cite web|url=http://encore.celebrityaccess.com/index.php?encoreId=312&articleId=39802|title= Web Sheriff Goes To The Mats Against Russian Clone|publisher=Encore|date=2011-07-04|accessdate=2011-07-17}}</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>
The company uses proprietary software and visual scanning to monitor the Internet. <ref name="Esquire Magazine"/><ref name="thefader">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2011/04/25/respect-yourself-interview-with-the-web-sheriff/|title=Respect Yourself: Interview with the Web Sheriff|publisher=''[[The Fader]]''|author=Cooper, Duncan|date=2011-04-25|accessdate=2011-04-25}}</ref> It relies on phone calls and relationship building along with [[technology]] and targets the web site owners who host infringing content.<ref name="spokesman">{{cite news|work=[[The Spokesman-Review]]|title=File-sharing meets Web Sheriff: Uk firm patrols Web for Copyright violators|date=2008-02-15|accessdate=2011-03-12}}</ref>
When the company detects pirated content the offending party is given an initial warning before further action is taken.<ref name="Esquire Magazine"/><ref name="WS guardian">{{cite news|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/oct/02/web-sheriff|publisher=''[[The Guardian]]''|title=Web Sheriff is Watching You|date=2009-10-12|accessdate=2010-03-12 | location=London | first=Helienne | last=Lindvall}}</ref> According to Web Sheriff, some Torrent sites provide access and allow them to remove infringing content.<ref name="Rolling Stone"/><ref name="cnet news"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11443861|title=Lawyers to continue piracy fight|date=2010-09-30|publisher=[[BBC]]|last=Emory|first=Daniel|accessdate=2010-10-01}}</ref>


==History==
==Client information==
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>
Clients include record labels and musical artists, media organizations, newspapers, broadcasters, film companies and celebrities. The company acts for the rights of its clients against a wide range of media [[copyright infringement]], privacy violations, [[trademark]] infringement and [[cybersquatting|domain name squatting]].<ref name="Rolling Stone"/> Web Sheriff has represented record labels including [[Columbia Records]],<ref name="silentalkie">{{cite web|url=http://silenttalkie.com/2010/01/19/stradio/the-brown-couch-of-leisure-january-17-2010-a-year-oh-a-year/|publisher=Silent Talkie|title=The Brown Coach of Leisure|date=2010-01-17|accessdate=2010-03-12}}</ref> [[Matador Records]],<ref name="villagevoice"/> [[Warner Bros. Records]],<ref name="abcblogs">{{cite news|url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/allan_raible/2008/03/review-the-raco.html|publisher=[[ABC News]]|title=Review: The Raconteurs’ "Consolers of the Lonely" |author=Raible, Allan|date=2008-03-27|accessdate=2011-03-13}}</ref> [[Domino Records]]<ref name="inlog.org">{{cite web|url=http://inlog.org/2009/01/07/web-sheriff-on-the-new-leaked-animal-collective/|publisher=Incubate|title=Web Sheriff on the new leaked Animal Collective|date=2009-01-07|accessdate=2010-03-12}}</ref> [[V2 Records]],<ref name="timesonlineArctic">{{cite news|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article1594238.ece|publisher=''[[The Times]]''|title=Arctic Monkeys go Bananas Over File Sharing|date=2007-03-31|accessdate=2010-03-12 | location=London | first=Adam | last=Sherwin}}</ref> and [[Magnolia Pictures]]<ref name="Esquire Magazine"/><ref name="Rolling Stone"/><ref name="TheScotsman"/>


Web Sheriff was hired by [[Prince (musician)|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=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6993752.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|date=13 September 2007|title=Prince get tough on web pirates|accessdate=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 |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 (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=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7082684.stm|title= Prince sites face legal threats|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=7 July 2007|accessdate=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>
==Company history==
Web Sheriff came to international attention when the company was hired by [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] in 2007 to remove all traces of the artist from the internet.<ref name="Rolling Stone"/><ref name="timesonline">{{cite news|url= http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article2447862.ece |publisher=''[[The Times]]''|title=Prince takes on YouTube over clips|date=2007-09-13|accessdate=2010-03-12 | location=London}}</ref> Prince's agents released a statement which said: "Prince believes that as an artist, the music rights must remain with the artist and copyrights should be protected across the board."<ref name="BBCPrince">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6993752.stm|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=2007-09-13|title=Prince get tough on web pirates|accessdate=2010-03-20}}</ref><ref name="BBCRadio 6">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/news/20070913_prince.shtml|title=Prince gets tough online|publisher=[[BBC Radio 6]]|date=2007-09-13|accessdate=2010-04-02}}</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=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7082684.stm|title= Prince sites face legal threats|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=2007-11-07|accessdate=2010-10-01}}</ref> In September 2007, Web Sheriff announced it would launch lawsuits against [[YouTube]], [[eBay]] and [[The Pirate Bay]] on behalf of Prince.<ref name="timesonline"/> These sites were described by the company's spokesman as in the "vanguard of online piracy".<ref name="guardianuk">{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/sep/13/digitalmedia.business|publisher=''[[The Guardian]]''|title=Prince seeks to 'Reclaim the net'|date=2007-09-13|accessdate=2010-03-12 | location=London | first=Jemima | last=Kiss}}</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 | publisher=[[Dagens Nyheter]] | location=[[Stockholm]], Sweden | date=15 February 2008 | accessdate=17 February 2008 | language=Swedish }}</ref> YouTube complied by removing over 2,000 illegally uploaded videos from the site.<ref name="guardianuk"/><ref name="billboard:Prince">{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003640709#/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003640709|publisher=''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''|title=Prince to sue YouTube, eBay over unauthorized content|accessdate=2010-03-12}}</ref> Over 300 eBay auction sites were also closed down and numerous unauthorized overseas online sites selling merchandise featuring Prince were shut down.<ref name="prince sues internet">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/prince-sues-internet-sites-for-breaching-his-copyright-402336.html|publisher=''[[The Independent]]''|date=2007-09-14|title=Prince sues internet sites for breaching his copyright|author= Byrne, Ciar|accessdate=2010-08-18}}</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 2007, when [[Bloc Party]]'s album ''[[A Weekend in the City]]'' leaked three months previous to release, their record label, [[V2 Records]] hired Web Sheriff to stop the leakage.<ref name="musicweekblocparty">{{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?storyCode=27184&sectioncode=1|title=V2 and Web Sheriff shield Bloc Party|publisher=''[[Music Week]]''|date=2007-03-26|accessdate=2010-03-24}}</ref> Web Sheriff at first appealed to fan sites to not post links to the album out of respect for the band. When this approach did not work, widespread uploaders were tracked down and sent letters that referred to possible prosecution. Said to face a possible one million illegal MP3 files downloaded, the leakage was reduced to an insignificant amount and the album was a [[record chart|Top 20]] hit and went [[Music recording sales certification|gold]] in the UK, upon release.<ref name="timesonlineArctic">{{cite news|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article1594238.ece|publisher=''[[The Times]]''|title=Arctic Monkeys go Bananas Over File Sharing|date=2007-03-31|accessdate=2010-03-12 | location=London | first=Adam | last=Sherwin}}</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>
In 2008, [[Van Morrison]] hired the company to contact fan sites and demand that photos, lyrics and other copyrighted material be removed immediately. His manager stated that posting the photos were an invasion of Morrison's privacy. The two most popular sites closed down soon after they were notified. Through the wishes of the artist all related videos on YouTube and elsewhere promptly disappeared from the internet.<ref name="Rolling Stone"/>


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==Reception==
[[Bryan Adams]] employed the company in 2008 to remove thousands of low quality [[bootleg]] video clips from [[YouTube]] and replace them with official videos on his own channel. The new channel was a success and had 187 million views one and one-half years later.<ref name="Pollstar"/>
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|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 (album)|Born This Way]]'' and Adele's ''[[21 (Adele album)|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 [[Recording Industry Association of America|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 (magazine)|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"/>
As soon as [[Qtrax]] introduced their new [[file-sharing]] site with much publicity In January 2008, Web Sheriff notified the site on behalf of Prince, [[Van Morrison]] and [[The Black Crowes]] that regardless of whether the music companies supported the service, individual artists would have to give their approval.<ref name="spokesman web sheriff">{{cite web|title=Not even out the door and already the Web Sheriff is after Qtrax|publisher=''[[The Spokesman-Review]]''|author=Sowa, Tom|date=2008-01-29|accessdate=2010-03-31}}</ref><ref name="Cnet Qtrax">{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9860263-1.html|title=After label, Qtrax must satisfy Prince, Van Morrison|publisher=[[cNET.com]]|author=Sandoval, Greg|date=2008-01-29|accessdate=2010-03-31}}</ref>


== See also ==
When "[[Brother Sport]]", the first song from [[Animal Collective]]'s album ''[[Merriweather Post Pavilion (album)|Merriweather Post Pavilion]]'' leaked in November 2008, Web Sheriff posted to [[Grizzly Bear (band)|Grizzly Bear]]'s blog that they were the "global-leak-source of the track" and asked for an apology to be posted on the blog for a week to Domino Records, Animal Collective and Web Sheriff.<ref name="villagevoice"/><ref name="grizzlybearAC">{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/147695-grizzly-bear-apologize-to-animal-collective-for-leak|title=Grizzly Bear Apologize to Animal Collective for Leak|date=2008-11-24|accessdate=2010-03-24|first=Paul|last=Thompson|coauthors=Phillips, Amy|publisher=''[[Pitchfork Media]]''}}</ref> Grizzly Bear band member [[Ed Droste]] complied and apologized stating "The Web Sheriff is just doing his job, and we're all aware of the damage internet file sharing is doing to album sales."<ref name="Watching you"/><ref name="Grizzy Bear">{{cite web|url=http://mog.com/blog_post/content/647/245224|publisher=Mog Blog|title=Grizzly Bear Likes to post leaks too|date=|accessdate=2009-03-12}}</ref> The album leaked a month early and while Web Sheriff said it was "virtually impossible to completely put an album back in the box after a leak", the company was able to remove 90% or 10,000 of the links.<ref name="Rolling Stone"/>
* [[Copyfraud]]

RLSLOG, one of the world's most popular release news sites, was taken offline in January 2009 through efforts by Web Sheriff. The site was shut down by complaints by Web Sheriff to its web site host and [[band width]] provider. Although RLSLOG claims to not host any copyrighted material on its site, it provides readers with links to the copyrighted files.<ref name="TorrentFreak">{{cite web|url=http://torrentfreak.com/web-sheriff-takes-down-rlslog-090119/|title=Web Sheriff Takes Down RLSLOG|publisher=[[TorrentFreak]]|date=2009-01-19|accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref><ref name="P2P">{{cite web|url=http://p2ptalk.org/2010/04/rlslog-pulled-offline-after-universal-music-complaint/|title=RLSLOG pulled offline after Universal Music complaint|date=2010-04-26|publisher=p2ptalk|accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref><ref name="DMW">{{cite web|url=http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2010/04/27/universal-music-complaint-gets-web-leaks-news-site-pulled|publisher=[[Digital Media Wire|DMW]]|title=Universal Music complaint gets web leaks news site pulled|author=Hefflington, Mark|date=2010-04-27|accessdate=2011-03-14}}</ref>

[[Bob Dylan]] used the company's services [[pro bono]] to protect his charity Christmas album, ''[[Christmas in the Heart]]'' following its leak in October 2009.<ref name="JG/MC"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/10/leaked_bob_dylan.html|publisher=''nymag''|title=Bob Dylan’s Awesome Christmas Album Leaks|author=Brown, Lane|date=2009-10-08|accessdate=2011-03-14}}</ref> A Dylan fansite had an entry that informed the fans that "YouTube is a different place with the Dylan content disappearing even as we speak. The Web Sheriff has performed this function for other artists, e.g. [[Van Morrison]], to some dramatic effect. You can't eliminate all forms of file and content sharing on the internet, but you can certainly severely limit it."<ref name="RightWingBob">{{cite web|url=http://www.rightwingbob.com/weblog/archives/6936|publisher=rightwingbob|title=A new sheriff's in town|date=2009-10-30|accessdate=2009-03-12}}</ref>
Web Sheriff has stated that 90% of the musical acts that it has worked with have ended up with higher sales than their previous record.<ref name="WS guardian"/>.

On 8 July 2011, Web Sheriff announced that it was taking legal action against a Russian website that has copied the Web Sheriff trademark and also purports to offer the same services as the anti-piracy company. American and Russian litigators were retained for the "intercontinental legal attack" against the Russian site.<ref name="reuters">{{cite web|url= http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/08/idUS91315+08-Jul-2011+BW20110708|title= Web Sheriff Files Lawsuit in 'Cold War' Against Alleged Russian Imposters|publisher=[[Reuters]]|date=2011-07-08|accessdate=2011-07-08}}</ref>

Web Sheriff has been instrumental in the removal of [[Ken Bigley]] execution videos and has closed down terrorist related sites<ref name="Esquire Magazine">''[[Esquire Magazine]]'', UK edition, "Meet the Web Sheriff", August 2009</ref> as well as the extreme pornographic [[erotic asphyxiation|strangulation]] sites at the center of the notorious [[Graham Coutts|Jane Longhurst]] 2003 murder trial at the [[Old Bailey]] in [[London]], England.<ref name="bbc Longhurst">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/3504926.stm|publisher=[[BBC]]|title=BBC: Two years to close porn site|date=2004-03-12|accessdate=2010-03-12}}</ref><ref name="mailonsunday2005">{{cite news|last=Giacobbi|first=John|title =How we can clean up the internet|work =[[The Mail on Sunday]]|date =2005-09-11}}</ref>

⚫
==Reception==
Web Sheriff is said to also function as a "fan outreach organization" <ref name="JG/MC"/><ref name="Pollstar"/> through its unique, "gentle, gradual approach".<ref name="latimes">{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-web-sheriff-20110609,0,2614591.story|title=
Web Sheriff tackles music piracy with a soft touch|date=2011-06-09|last=Lewis|first=Randy|journal=[[Los Angeles Times]]|accessdate=2011-06-09}}</ref> The company's methods make use of each fan encounter to "turn a negative into a positive by using [[viral marketing]] and including fans and bloggers in their marketing and promotion."<ref name="bnetWS">{{cite web|url= http://finance.bnet.com/bnet/news/read?GUID=17501470&ChannelID=3191|title=Web Sheriff Comes to Hollywood: Music’s Top Web Enforcer Brings New Approach to Fight against Movie Piracy|date=2011-03-02|publisher=[[CBS MoneyWatch]]|accessdate=2011-03-02}}</ref><ref name="Watching you">{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/article-23671006-off-the-record-web-sheriff-is-watching-you.do|title=Off the Record: Web Sheriff is watching you|publisher=''[[Evening Standard]]''|date=2009-03-04|accessdate=2010-03-12}}</ref> <ref name="cnet news"/><ref name="WS guardian"/> <ref name="TheScotsman">{{cite web|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/critique/Caught-in-the-net.5154998.jp|title=Caught in the net|author=Smyth, David|date=2009-04-11|publisher=''[[The Scotsman]]''|accessdate=2011-04-11}}</ref><ref name="Esquire Magazine"/> Music fans and bloggers often initially respond angrily when first requested by Web Sheriff to take down [[MP3]] tracks or to not post them on the music-related site. Web Sheriff's usual approach is an appeal to the fans to respect the wishes of the band with offers of links to approved tracks and samples for the new album. Fans sometimes interpret this as Web Sheriff saying, "I've got my eye on you."<ref name="Watching you">{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/article-23671006-off-the-record-web-sheriff-is-watching-you.do|title=Off the Record: Web Sheriff is watching you|publisher=''[[Evening Standard]]''|date=2009-03-04|accessdate=2010-03-12}}</ref> Eventually most of the fans tend to respect the wishes of their favored artists by cooperating.<ref name="cnet news"/><ref name="WS guardian"/> [[BitTorrent (protocol)|Bit Torrent]] file sharers are much more resistant to a friendly approach and may be sent letters threatening the consequences of non-compliance with civil or criminal charges being instigated.<ref name="Esquire Magazine"/>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Reflist|30em}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.websheriff.com/ Web Sheriff Official Website]
*[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 - 03/20/2011
*[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
⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2011}}


[[Category:Internet]]
[[Category:Business services companies established in 2000]]
[[Category:Internet companies]]
[[Category:Online companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Copyright enforcement companies]]
[[Category:Copyright enforcement companies]]
[[Category:Cybercrime]]
[[Category:Computer security companies]]
[[Category:Intellectual property law]]
[[Category:Intellectual property organizations]]
[[Category:Technology companies]]

Latest revision as of 07:05, 14 August 2024

Web Sheriff
Formation19 October 2000; 24 years ago (2000-10-19)[1]
FounderJohn Giacobbi
Registration no.04093131[1]
PurposeIntellectual property rights
HeadquartersPewsey, Wiltshire, UK[1]
Location
Area served
International
ServicesCopyright enforcement, digital rights management, website building, hosting and management, video editing
OwnerWeb Sheriff Limited
Director
John Edouard Giacobbi[1]
Secretary
Robert Arthur Davage
Employees
20
Websitewebsheriff.com

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,[2] who acts as its managing director. Web Sheriff sends legal take-down notices to BitTorrent and other file sharing sites.[3][4] According to the Los Angeles Times, Web Sheriff is a "leading advocate of the soft sell" in the anti-piracy industry.[2]

Description

[edit]

Web Sheriff performs various copy protection services.[5] These include protection from copyright infringement,[6] libel,[7] cyber-bullying,[8][9] identity theft privacy issues of social media, policing of trading sites[10] and recovery of fraudulently registered domain names.[11] It also furnishes online security for concert tours.[12]

Operating methods

[edit]

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.[13] It relies heavily on phone calls and relationship building[14] and when locating unauthorized links it targets the persons running the sites.[15] The supposed offending party is sent a take-down notice before further action is taken.[14] Some Torrent sites and file-sharing sites such as MediaFire and RapidShare provide access to the company to remove infringing content itself.[16]

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."[2] When it contracts to protect new music releases, the company encourages the artists it represents to give fans several tracks ahead of the release.[17]

History

[edit]

Web Sheriff was founded in 2000 by former music attorney and industry consultant[4] John Giacobbi.[4][18][19]

Web Sheriff was hired by Prince in September 2007 to help him "disappear entirely from the internet."[5] 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.[3][20][21] Peter Sunde, co-founder of The Pirate Bay, dismissed the threats, stating that American law was not applicable in Sweden.[22] YouTube complied by removing over 2,000 videos from their site and eBay removed more than 300 auctions.[23][24][25] 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".[26] Some of the Prince fans fought back, formed their own organization called "Prince Fans United" and hired an attorney.[5][27][28] Multiple unauthorized overseas online sites selling merchandise featuring Prince were shut down.[29]

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.[30][31][32][33][34]

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.[35][36][37]

Reception

[edit]

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."[6] The company reports that eventually most of the fans tend to respect the wishes of their favored artists by cooperating.[14] 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.[38][39]

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.[2] 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."[2] 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."[3]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "WEB SHERIFF LIMITED". Companies House UK. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Randy (9 June 2011). "Piracy watchdog's mild bite". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  3. ^ a b c "New Sheriff in Town" (PDF). Billboard Upfront. 1 July 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  4. ^ a b c Daniels, Andrew (12 April 2011). "The Most Hated Man on the Internet". Men's Health. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  5. ^ a b c Rolling Stone, "Battle Over Online Piracy Gets a Sheriff", Andy Greene, RS 1077, April 2009
  6. ^ a b "Off the Record: Web Sheriff is watching you". Evening Standard. 4 March 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  7. ^ Weiss, Dan (10 December 2008). "Meet the Web Sheriff". The Village Voice. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  8. ^ "Noel Edmonds confronts Facebook troll". telegraph.co.uk. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  9. ^ Reeves, Philip (15 April 2012). "British Attempt to Squash Online Bullying". London: NPR. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  10. ^ Esquire Magazine, UK edition, "Meet the Web Sheriff", August 2009
  11. ^ "Web Sheriff Goes To The Mats Against Russian Clone". Encore. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  12. ^ Reinartz, Joe (10 March 2011). "Meet the Online Police". Pollstar. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  13. ^ Cooper, Duncan (25 April 2011). "Respect Yourself: Interview with the Web Sheriff". The Fader. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  14. ^ a b c Sandoval, Greg (25 September 2007). "Web Sheriff Doing it different than Media Defender". CNET. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  15. ^ [1]"Facing the Music: There's a New Anti-File-Sharing Sheriff in Town, and He's Getting Results". The Spokesman-Review. 18 February 2008.
  16. ^ Youngs, Ian (16 August 2011). "Stars step up wars on music leaks". BBC. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  17. ^ Lindvall, Helienne (20 August 2009). "Behind the music: How can artists prevent their work from being leaked?". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  18. ^ Stevens, Serita. "The Web Sheriff: A New Kind of Enforcement". lasplash.com. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  19. ^ Gardner, Eriq (1 February 2012). "Hollywood Piracy Watch: Magnolia Pictures Sends the Most Takedown Notices to Twitter". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  20. ^ "Prince get tough on web pirates". BBC News. 13 September 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  21. ^ "Prince gets tough online". BBC Radio 6. 13 September 2007. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  22. ^ Söderling, Fredrik (15 February 2008). "Prince stämmer Pirate Bay". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Stockholm, Sweden. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  23. ^ "Prince to sue YouTube, eBay over unauthorized content". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  24. ^ Kiss, Jemima (13 September 2007). "Prince seeks to 'Reclaim the net'". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  25. ^ Byrne, Ciar (14 September 2007). "Prince sues internet sites for breaching his copyright". The Independent. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  26. ^ Casiato, Paul (7 November 2007). "Prince moves to sue fan web sites". London. Reuters. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  27. ^ "Prince sites face legal threats". BBC. 7 July 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  28. ^ Kreps, Daniel (9 November 2007). "Prince Releases Diss Track As Battle With Fans Gets Funky". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  29. ^ Frehsee, Nicole (14 September 2007). "Prince's Message to Everyone: Stop Bootlegging My Stuff". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  30. ^ Fiveash, Kelly (27 October 2008). "Bryan Adams pulls a Prince on fan sites". The Register.
  31. ^ Sandoval, Greg (27 October 2008). "Bryan Adams follows Prince in challenging fan sites". CNET.
  32. ^ Allemann, Andrew (11 July 2017). "Berkens' company sues musician Bryan Adams over bizarre trademark claims". Domain Name Wire. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  33. ^ "Worldwide Media, Inc.vs Bryan Adams and Adams Communications Inc" (PDF).
  34. ^ "Exhibit A" (PDF).
  35. ^ "Appetite for destruction: Axl Rose demands Google remove 'fat' photos". The Guardian.
  36. ^ "Axl Rose Wants His "Fat" Photos Removed From the Internet". Yahoo. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  37. ^ "Axl Rose demands Google take down "Fat Axl Rose" photo". CBS News. 8 June 2016.
  38. ^ Lindvall, Helienne (12 October 2009). "Web Sheriff is Watching You". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  39. ^ Lau, Kathleen (4 May 2011). "Web Sheriff fights music piracy". itworldcanada.com. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
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