Respect My Authoritah! Viacom adds spice to YouTube lawsuit
Rob Illidge (Marketing Execuitve)
I read in the Times this morning that Viacom have now alleged that the use of copyrighted material was central to YouTube’s website business model.
This of course is in relation to the argument that the content-sharing website had hosted more than 60,000 copyrighted videos without authorisation, including versions of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and South Park.
The figure of the lawsuit? $1bn! Surely plucked out of American lawsuit heaven.
It could be sadi that perhaps back in 2005 YouTube had a visitor’s first/worry about copyright infringement later attitude. Something I’m sure many young inspiring online entrepreneurs do.
I’m not in any way condoning the breach of copyright; although I do have my trusty Intellectual Property Solicitor here at the ready, should the Viacom heavies come knocking at my door. Not tonight though, I’ll be out!
There is no doubt that these videos are property of Viacom, but surely YouTube is simply giving shows like South Park the product extension that it needs?
Why not allow YouTube to give The Daily Show with Jon Stewart the international push that it needs?
YouTube does come across as somehwhat lax in regards to South Park clips, a simple search confirms this. Compare this to football highlights, which are almost immediately removed due to “copyright ownership claims”.
YouTube maintains that it takes down any copyrighted material when alerted by the owners of the content. Google argues that it should not be held responsible for policing content before it is placed on the site by users.
To add a little spice to mix, YouTube’s lawyers responded with claims that Viacom secretly and continuously uploaded its own content to YouTube, even as it complained publicly about its clips on the site.
“Viacom is suing us over clips that were actually uploaded by Viacom itself,” Zahavah Levine, YouTube chief counsel. Only in America!
This has all the wrangles of a mid day American drama, and trust me, they’re awful.
The case continues.
Tags: intellectual property solicitor, robert illidge, solicitors manchester, viacom, youtube
Intellectual Property | Ralli | 
March 19, 2010 1:17 pm
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