YouTube Legally Considered a TV Station In Italy

orzetto writes "Italian newspaper La Repubblica reports that YouTube and similar websites based on user-generated content will be considered TV stations (Google translation of Italian original) in Italian law, and will be subject to the same obligations. Among these, a small tax (500 €), the obligation to publish corrections within 48 hours upon request of people who consider themselves slandered by published content, and the obligation not to broadcast content inappropriate for children in certain time slots. The main change, though, is that YouTube and similar sites will be legally responsible for all published content as long as they have any form (even if automated) of editorial control. The main reason for this is probably that it will force YouTube to assume editorial responsibility for all published content, which facilitates the ongoing € 500M lawsuit of Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi against YouTube because of content copyrighted by Berlusconi's TV networks that some users uploaded on YouTube. Berlusconi's Spanish TV station, TeleCinco, was previously defeated in court on the grounds that YouTube is not a content provider."

Re:Pretty much completely infeasible.

[mcvos]

Berlusconi controls the government, and through the media, also the voters. He's made it obvious over the years that he doesn't consider this a conflict of interests, he considers it synergy.

Re:Pretty much completely infeasible.

[JockTroll]

EU != Italy. Beluskaiser makes his own laws for his own advantage, like all petty dictators.