| kenny |
10-06-2009 03:30 PM |
Youtube workers uploaded copyrighted content?
Possible development in Viacom v. Google? Reliable information? I don't know you decide..
Quote:
Report: YouTube workers uploaded copyrighted content
Emerging evidence in Viacom's $1 billion copyright lawsuit against YouTube may indicate the video service's employees not only knew about and ignored unauthorized content on the site, but uploaded some themselves, according to a CNET story on Tuesday.
The allegations threaten to undermine the San Bruno Google subsidiary's defense, according to legal experts cited by the tech publication. Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act's safe harbor provision, Web sites generally aren't responsible for content posted by third parties. But the law requires them to remove infringing material if they are aware of it.
Internal e-mails that surfaced during an information exchange between the parties show YouTube managers knew about unauthorized content but decided not to take it down, CNET reported, citing three sources with knowledge of the case. Those sources characterized the e-mails as "one of the cornerstones" of Viacom's two-and-a-half-year-old case.
The publication didn't specify the nature of the evidence indicating some employees actually uploaded infringing material.
YouTube spokesman Aaron Zamost said in a statement:
The characterizations of the supposed evidence, made in violation of a court order, are wrong, misleading, or lack important context and notably come on the heels of a series of significant setbacks for the plaintiffs.
The evidence will show that we go above and beyond our legal obligations to protect the rights of content owners.
YouTube had long argued it couldn't parcel out legal clips from pirated material, especially since content companies including Viacom uploaded materials onto YouTube themselves.
The company has, however, developed a sophisticated filtering tool that now helps it identify copyrighted works. It has also struck a series of partnerships with traditional media companies allowing it to legitimately post thousands of TV clips, older movies and music videos.
The lawsuit isn't expected to come to trial before next year.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/...#ixzz0TCI0ebPm
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-349415.html
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