YouTube Gets Tough on Copyright Infringement
In less than a year since its initial launch, YouTube has taken the internet by storm, exploding to over 20 million visitors a month and recently being acquired by Google for $1.65 billion. It’s obvious that the site filled a need for sharing videos on the web, by making them both easy to find and easy to watch. It also didn’t hurt that the site turned a blind eye towards copyright infringement, which meant that the content was able to grow at an insane rate and users never had to worry about the legality of what they were uploading.
With the sale of YouTube to Google, however, it looks like this short-lived boom of free video sharing on the internet may be coming to a close. As of last week, Comedy Central requested YouTube to remove any and all clips from their TV shows including The Daily Show, The Colbert Report and South Park. This is likely the first in a long line of companies who will be taking action to remove their content from YouTube now that there is big money involved. There is speculation that Google is about to introduce an advertising program for YouTube, and no one is going to allow Google or their users to profit from clips that they do not own. Plus Google has deep pockets that are ripe for litigation, they probably won’t want to risk getting sued. So unfortunately, just like all other cool free stuff on the internet, it can only last for so long. I’ll be sad to see YouTube go… but will another underground video sharing network will come along to save the day?
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Comments (4)
YouTube is best for nostalgia. I was able to watch the final episode of Conan the Adventurer, thus completing a saga that began in my early childhood.
I wonder if those clips will be taken down as well. If they do it’s sad. I don’t really care much about Stephen Colbert clips.
I don’t think it’s totally out-of-place for the TV stations to want current content taken down though… I am willing to concede the newer stuff if I get to keep nostalgia clips and short films directed by people who go on to direct monsterbudget video game movies.
Posted by Henrik on October 30th, 2006I don’t care much about losing Comedy Central clips either but it will probably lead to a lot more.
The nostalgic stuff is great but YouTube is a pretty amazing resource when you think about it. Anytime I hear about something that was on the news, or some funny thing that happened on a talk show somewhere, all you do is go on YouTube and someone’s already uploaded it. Pretty amazing.
Posted by Sean on October 30th, 2006Youtube is gonna go the way of Napster.
Posted by Croft on October 30th, 2006From a business point of view, YouTube is nothing but a pain the ass, they destroy copy right laws and take well deserved money from hard working people. But from everyone elses point of view – it’s a God-send.
Like Sean says, it’s a pretty great resource for finding old clips, and an even better learning resource at that. (like those Maysles films that Jay posted about on the DocBlog)
What I wonder is do filmmakers or artists have to accept that idea that they’re going to be ripped off? I would think that Comedy Central and other artists could use YouTube as way for people to get interested in their shows.
Posted by roy on October 30th, 2006Leave a Reply