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Viacom goes after Google for YouTube infringements
Author: Wil HarrisPublished: 13th March 2007
Will Google's YouTube take a kicking over the Viacome copyright lawsuit?
Previously, Viacom asked Google to remove all videos taken from its media properties from the video sharing site. Viacom had failed to reach a deal with the search giant that it felt handed over enough dosh, so pulled the plug on all clips on the site. Viacom is a media giant, which owns properties such as Comedy Central and MTV, along with its hit shows South Park and The Daily Show, both stalwarts of the most popular videos list on YouTube.
Viacom took its videos and posted them all on its own site, hoping to attract eyeballs. Meanwhile, YouTube has been continuing with its policy of removing videos following a DMCA takedown request - whilst implementing pro-active filtering for its commercial partners.
Having decreed that it was unfair for Google to uphold copyright law only for those who entered into a commercial lawsuit, Viacom has gone further and has now sued Google for damages. Following the $1.65bn acquisition of YouTube, rumour has it that Google set aside a $500m 'war chest' for paying off copyright owners and fighting lawsuits. Viacom is after a Dr Evil-esque $1bn in damages, which could rip through that pile of cash and put a significant dent in even Google's finances.
Viacom says that the damages relate to the playback of over 160,000 separate videos that were hosted on YouTube. Have you seen any of them, and what do you think of YouTube's chances now the lawsuits are kicking in? Let us know your thoughts over in the forums.
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Comments (22)Stats: 0.143 seconds
With the size of the userbase that watch youtube, Viacom could be using it as a tool to advertise their shows for little to no cash out of pocket. Instead they are wasting money trying to extort cash out of google.
streaming video like that is bad, it brings piracy to the n00b and makes it far too easy to get hold of. I personally think that youTube should remove all content like that, and sites like alluc should be taken down as well.
I think Godboy_g is onto something with advertising. Google could set Youtube up like adult swim... i.e. 15 second commercials in between every 7 minutes of video. The owners of the video could then choose the commercial or something.
It's good publicity, it's just that the execution isn't so great.
this totally reminds me of the south park episode, with the law case "everyone vs everyone"
Hold on a second, they might sue me for just mentioning this, i mean it is revealing some of their IP without paying for it
15 sec ad before a 10 second video that shows a cat exploding.......
... plus Bill Gates pocket change (nice addition randsome ;) )
Though in reality I suspect it has something to do with "how much will it take to make headlines and get attention?"
QFT.
Viacom is like the RIAA, all they do is bitch & moan.
I never watch full length shows on youtube because 1. they are very low quality and 2. my TV is bigger and has better sound and 3. I dont have to wait for it to load on TV.
I watch original content mostly on youtube from bloggers and ingame footage of new games. Sometimes footie highlights and other random stuff.
Viacom is doing more damage than good, I suspect they are doing this just as mainly a PR stunt. Evidence of this is in the amount of money they want, 1 billion dollars? Thats a bit excessive since youtube has only 70 million users watching vids each month. Besides there are only ever 1 or 2 viacom productions in the most watched list at any 1 time, and they are never full length shows.