Google and Viacom Finally Settle YouTube Lawsuit 19
An anonymous reader sends word that Google and Viacom have settled their copyright lawsuit over videos posted to YouTube. The case has been ongoing for seven years, with Viacom initially demanding $1 billion and losing in court, but then successfully appealing. 'At the heart of the matter was whether YouTube was responsible for the copyrighted material its users posted on the site. In general, sites that host user-generated content are protected by the DMCA if they take swift action to remove offending content when it's reported. YouTube argued that it does remove this content, but Viacom's initial lawsuit said YouTube was hosting at least 160,000 unauthorized Viacom clips.' You may recall that Viacom was caught uploading some of the videos in question to YouTube themselves. The terms of the new settlement were not disclosed.
Re:Mega (Score:5, Informative)
I know it's hip and all to say that Google can do only evil, but when you upload a video, you have the option to disable ads on that video. And if someone else uploads your content without your permission and enables ads, you can have it taken down.
Re:Mega (Score:5, Insightful)
Sure. You're a little person. You can use a DMCA notice to do the takedown. Just like the law says.
But if you are big person, like Viacom, or any other multinational 'content creator', you get to be part of a private arrangement with Google, where Google will automatically flag content it thinks belongs to you, and at your option, will take it down or put up ads and give you all the revenue automatically. And if the person complains, you get to decide if the person has a valid complaint. Guess which way that goes.
Re: (Score:2)
But if you are big person, like Viacom, or any other multinational 'content creator', you get to be part of a private arrangement with Google, where Google will automatically flag content it thinks belongs to you, and at your option, will take it down or put up ads and give you all the revenue automatically.
That has nothing to do with whether or not you're a "big person". It has to do with the amount of content you own. Unless you own tens of thousands of videos it's just not worth setting up that sort of arrangement.
And if the person complains, you get to decide if the person has a valid complaint.
Cite? AFAIK, if the uploader files a counter-notice, Google puts the video back up and the uploader and notice-filer get to fight it out in court. Granted that individuals are at a serious disadvantage when it comes to fighting multinationals in court, but that's hardly Google's fault.
Re: (Score:2)
You've got this the wrong way around. Mega's business case was to host *copyrighted material* available for people to view whilst making money off subscriptions and ads. Youtube's business case is to host *legal content* and monetise it (whilst providing its ad agency with information about you to better target ads, but that's beside the point). They may not be as fast as they should be to remove infringing content, but they do, and in good faith.
no clear judgement... (Score:3, Interesting)
... means we lost. copyright bullies will not stop.
unacceptable (Score:1, Interesting)
for a lawsuit that got so much press, it should be compulsory to disclose the outcome to the public. What i smell here is that they just found a nice way to make money and fuck the final user, but they wont tell how.
Re: unacceptable (Score:3, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Don't worry. Someone's daughter will post details of the settlement on Facebook.
Should have posted it on MySpace. That way no one could successfully argue it was disclosed to the public.
obvious to me (Score:1)
what the hell? (Score:2)
Must have been a pretty crooked judge to not charge them with obstruction of justice and throw the case out immediately.