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May 6, 2004
Warner Bros. Entertainment Forms Industry’s First Dedicated Worldwide Anti-Piracy Unit
(May 6, 2004 — Burbank, CA) - Warner Bros. Entertainment has formed the industry’s first dedicated worldwide corporate anti-piracy unit under the leadership of Darcy Antonellis, who was recently named to the newly created position of Senior Vice President, Worldwide Anti-Piracy Operations, Warner Bros. Entertainment.
This anti-piracy group will work with and across all areas of Warner Bros. Entertainment, including the Studio's worldwide feature film, home video and television production and distribution operations. The group will also work closely with Time Warner's public policy offices worldwide, the Motion Picture Association and local anti-piracy organizations.
“Piracy is a global threat to our industry and it needs a dedicated, multi-disciplinary, worldwide team to deal with it,” said Antonellis. “This core group has been assembled to fight Intellectual Property theft not only in different countries but in different arenas as well—in courtrooms, in classrooms and in the community.”
Jodi Nesis Benaim has moved over from her position as Senior Vice President, Corporate Business Development and Strategy, Europe, to become Senior Vice President, European Anti-Piracy Operations, Warner Bros. Entertainment. Based in London, she will be responsible for overseeing anti-piracy operations throughout Europe, reporting directly to Antonellis. Benaim joined the Company in 1997 as Director, Corporate Projects. Prior to joining the company Benaim worked as a management consultant at McKinsey and Co., an investment banker and Lehman Bros. and received her MBA from Harvard Business School.
David Kaplan, Vice President, Intellectual Property Counsel, will continue to oversee worldwide piracy legal issues reporting on those matters to Antonellis. Trevor Albery has joined the company as Director, Anti-Piracy Counsel Europe, Warner Bros. Entertainment. Albery, who previously worked on piracy issues for the International Federation of Phonographic Industries (IFPI), will be responsible for legal issues and enforcement related to piracy throughout Europe and will be based in London, reporting to Kaplan.
“Jodi’s strong business background and experience working with our divisions will provide strong support and leadership throughout Europe to lead our activities,” said Antonellis. “And Trevor’s experience with IFPI on the legal front brings excellent experience to the team.”
Other members of the core team focusing on the anti-piracy effort include Dean Marks, Senior Vice President, Intellectual Property, Corporate Business Development and Strategy; Marc Brandon, Director, Anti-Piracy Internet Operations; Craig Hoffman, Director, Corporate Communications; and Chris Odgers, Director, Technology Operations. These executives, along with Antonellis and Kaplan, are based at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, CA.
In the near future, Antonellis will add full-time analysts in Germany and in London, as well as dedicated personnel in other international markets, including Asia and Latin America.
The anti-piracy unit will work closely with every area of the Studio on all aspects of the problem, particularly with corporate legal, corporate communications, sales and distribution, security, and television and film post production departments, as well as with Time Warner’s public policy offices around the world.# # #