Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Google May Pay Another $1B for YouTube

Google's plans to combat piracy on YouTube may be too little, too late, if Viacom gets its way. The media giant has sued Google for a billion dollars in damages for infringing the copyrights on at least 160,000 media clips snatched from programming on MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and other cable networks.

MTV's parent company Viacom (NYSE: VIAb) Latest News about Viacom is seeking more than US$1 billion in damages from YouTube Latest News about YouTube and its owner Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) Latest News about Google for thousands of alleged copyright infringements.

A complaint filed by the media giant in U.S. District Court in New York contends that almost 160,000 clips of Viacom's programming have been made available on YouTube without authorization, and that those clips were viewed more than 1.5 billion times.

In addition to MTV, Viacom also owns a number of other cable networks including VH1, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon.

Stealing Efforts?

The New York-based company charges that YouTube, which Google acquired late last year in a $1.6 billion stock deal, is a for-profit organization that has "built a lucrative business out of exploiting the devotion of fans to others' creative works" in order to enrich itself and its corporate parent Google.

"There is no question that YouTube and Google are continuing to take the fruit of our efforts without permission," the company said, "destroying enormous value in the process."

The value of those efforts, according to Viacom, rightfully belongs to the writers, directors and talent who create the entertainment, as well as companies like Viacom that invest in its development and production.
Legal Battles

Google has been hoping to avoid this type of legal confrontation. In an attempt to fend off growing criticism, the search giant recently decided to tackle copyright issues head on by offering antipiracy technologies to stop unauthorized video-sharing.

The tool is designed to help media companies identify and remove pirated videos uploaded by users, the search giant said.

However, little technical information about the antipiracy software has been forthcoming from Google, said Forrester Research Analyst James McQuivey.

"It is very hard to do," he told TechNewsWorld. "You can't push a button and make it happen."
Protecting Partners

Compounding the issue, said McQuivey, is the fact that Google has told content providers it would release the tool to its own partners before anyone else.

"Then we get into the issue of 'Do we have to sign a deal before they enforce the copyright laws?'" said McQuivey.
Media Groups

Several media groups have been involved in a pitched battle with Web sites like YouTube and MySpace Latest News about MySpace -- which also has been accused of illegally hosting Get FREE CDN for 3 Months. PEER 1 Dedicated Hosting. Click Here. copyrighted material.

Universal Music Group, the world's biggest record company, late last year accused YouTube of being a serial copyright infringer, and CEO Doug Morris blasted the outfit during a recent Merrill Lynch investors' conference speech.
Generating Revenues

Now, Viacom claims YouTube's strategy has been to avoid taking proactive steps to curtail the infringement on its site, while generating significant traffic and revenues for itself. In turn, it has shifted the entire burden and cost of monitoring YouTube onto the "victims of its infringement."

If Google's momentum is slowed at all as a result of the suit, media companies can expect other firms like AOL Video and iFilm to cozy up to them quickly, says McQuivey -- and the feelings will likely be mutual.

"Media companies are going to want to punish Google a little," he said.

A YouTube representative could not immediately be reached for this article.

16 comments:

  1. Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all folks you really recognize what you are talking about!

    Bookmarked. Please additionally consult with my site =). We can have a link
    trade arrangement among us
    Feel free to visit my blog post - refinance home loan

    ReplyDelete
  2. Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon
    your web site and in accession capital to assert that I acquire actually enjoyed account your blog posts.
    Anyway I will be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.
    Feel free to surf my website ... kredit guenstig

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hmm is anyone else having problems with the images on this
    blog loading? I'm trying to find out if its a problem on my end or if it's the blog.

    Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

    Look at my web page; private krankenversicherung beihilfe
    Feel free to surf my webpage ::

    ReplyDelete
  4. Appreciating the dedication you put into your
    site and detailed information you offer. It's nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn't
    the same unwanted rehashed information. Excellent read!
    I've bookmarked your site and I'm adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.


    Check out my web-site product affiliate program
    Here is my blog post

    ReplyDelete
  5. Spot on with this write-up, I seriously think this amazing site needs a lot more attention.
    I'll probably be returning to see more, thanks for the information!
    My web page :: online money making opportunities

    ReplyDelete
  6. I will right away grasp your rss feed as I can't find your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you've any?
    Kindly let me recognize so that I may subscribe.
    Thanks.
    Take a look at my site - billige krankenkassen

    ReplyDelete
  7. What's up, after reading this awesome article i am also happy to share my experience here with colleagues.
    Here is my web-site ; web hosting vps

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi my friend! I want to say that this post is amazing, nice written and come with almost all
    significant infos. I would like to see extra posts like this .
    Here is my blog post : vacation resorts

    ReplyDelete
  9. Quality posts is the key to attract the viewers to pay a
    visit the site, that's what this web page is providing.
    My web blog ; private krankenversicherung tarifvergleich

    ReplyDelete
  10. I used to be able to find good information from your articles.


    Here is my web page -
    Also see my page ::

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi, this weekend is fastidious in favor of me,
    since this occasion i am reading this wonderful
    educational article here at my residence.
    Stop by my site ... Refinancing Mortgage

    ReplyDelete
  12. It is not my first time to visit this web site, i am visiting this site dailly and obtain pleasant facts from
    here daily.
    Here is my web blog ; search Engine optimization san diego

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm not sure exactly why but this web site is loading very slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a problem on my end? I'll check back later and see if
    the problem still exists.
    Also visit my weblog :: free reseller cpanel hosting

    ReplyDelete
  14. Good post however , I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this
    subject? I'd be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Many thanks!

    Take a look at my homepage :: should i get a home equity loan

    ReplyDelete
  15. It's actually a nice and useful piece of info. I'm happy that you
    simply shared this helpful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Here is my web site - click through the following website
    My web site: Read �

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hello, what entice you to post an short article. This short article was super interesting, especially because I was searching for ideas on
    the subject last Thursday.

    Also visit my website - small online business ideas 2013

    ReplyDelete