Viacom’s recent demand that YouTube remove copyrighted content from its library of videos resulted a reluctant stand-off by both companies over the last month.   Over 100,000 videos were removed but Viacom has not been compensated in any way for alleged copyright infringement.   This is the opening salvo in a TV War that should prove interesting indeed.

In the past, companies like Universal, Warner Music Group, and NBC Universal have threatened to sue YouTube.   After negotiations, deals were made and everybody went home reasonably happy.   Not so with Viacom.   The purchase of YouTube by Google has some copyright holders drooling over YouTube’s “new deep pockets”, but they have yet to be able to prove criminal intent.   Most of the uploading is done by YouTube subscribers, i.e. individuals, not YouTube itself.

After unsuccessful negotiations over the last month, on March 13, 2007, Viacom filed a Federal Copyright Infringement Complaint against YouTube and Google.   It seeks to “require YouTube and Google to comply with copyright laws and pay $1 billion in damages”.   Google appears to be confident current copyright law offers the ’safe harbor’ afforded other companies under the DMCA of 1998.

Negotiations seem to have drawn to a close.   Let the games begin.

Lisa Miller