Coming Attractions: Viacom - YouTube - Google Smackdown

This was widely predicted as a consequence of Google’s acquisition of YouTube. If you combine a website that allegedly engages in “massive intentional copyright infringement” with the deep pockets of one of America’s largest companies, you’re asking for lawsuits. From the AP:

MTV owner Viacom Inc. sued the popular video-sharing site YouTube and its corporate parent, Google Inc., on Tuesday, seeking more than $1 billion in damages on claims of widespread copyright infringement.

Viacom claims that YouTube has displayed more than 160,000 unauthorized video clips from its cable networks, which also include Comedy Central, VH1 and Nickelodeon.

As noted by the WSJ Law Blog, Viacom is represented by Jenner & Block in DC. We’re curious to find out who gets tapped by Google for defense. We’re looking forward to an interesting fight — which, in addition to supplying entertainment value, will hopefully also clarify the proper operation of copyright law in cyberspace.
Viacom Sues YouTube Over Copyrights [Associated Press]
Viacom Sues Google and You Tube [WSJ Law Blog]

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