Date: Monday, August 13, 2007
YouTube faces legal action
Many of the world’s major media companies have joined forces in a legal action against the video-sharing site.
Clips of newly-released songs and clips from our favourite TV programmes often appear on YouTube and most of us don’t think anything of it, but now that could all be set to change as the site is being sued over infringement of copyright laws. The National Musical Publishers’ Association (NMPA) is the latest company to join the large number of organisations who are seeking damages against the website. The NMPA has said that it is particularly concerned about YouTube’s attitude towards copyright laws, and has joined the lawsuit to protect the work of music publishers and songwriters from being used by the site without permission or compensation. However, the website has hit back saying that they are not in breach of any copyright laws as they remove the offending clips as soon as they become aware of them. This is not maintained by the companies bringing the lawsuit, which will be held in New York, who argue that they have lost earnings due to the broadcasting of their work without permission. These companies include those such as Viacom, Nickelodeon, the FA Premier League, Paramount Pictures and Comedy Central who are all suing the website for unapproved use of their material.
This most recent backlash against the website follows in the wake of others which have occurred in previous weeks. YouTube has been accused of promoting child violence through the screening of juvenile fight videos on the site, as well as being the recipient of a call for closure from teachers who maintain the site encourages cyber bullying. The site continues to be attacked from many quarters, but still enjoys a huge international fan base, but will this continue once they can’t watch their favourite films, programmes and football online for free?
Source: BBC News
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