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Google is confident YouTube is protected under copyright law

13 March 2007 18:18 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 4 comments

Google Inc. is fully confident that current copyright law in the United States provides YouTube and other Google services adequate protection against lawsuits like the $1 billion lawsuit filed by Viacom Inc. today. After months of an escalating argument between Viacom and Google, Viacom filed a lawsuit against the company on Tuesday, claiming "massive intentional copyright infringement."

However, Google's lawyers were quick to defend the company and add that it has strong protections under the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and warned that Google will aggressively protect itself. The DMCA limits liability for firms that act quickly to block or remove pirate material from servers when they are properly notified by the copyright holder.

"Here there is a law which is specifically designed to give Web hosts such as us, or... bloggers or people that provide photo-album hosting online ... the 'safe harbor' we need in order to be able to do hosting online," Alexander Macgillivray, Google's associate general counsel for products and intellectual property, told Reuters. "We will never launch a product or acquire a company unless we are completely satisfied with its legal basis for operating."

He used past cases like this as examples. "This is an area of law where there are a bunch of really clear precedents, so Amazon and eBay have both been found to qualify for the safe harbor and there are a whole bunch more," he said. "We will continue to innovate and continue to host material for people, without being distracted by this suit."

He also pointed out that a Judge cited "safe harbor" protections previously in dismissing a lawsuit involving copyright issues filed by Nevada attorney Blake Field against the company.

Source:
Reuters

Permalink to this article

Judge tells YouTube to turn over viewing logs to Viacom (3 July 2008)

Google lawyers seek testimony from comedians in YouTube case (14 August 2007)

YouTube expects anti-piracy tech in September (27 July 2007)

Viacom chairman responds to Google remarks (13 July 2007)

YouTube hit with another lawsuit (16 May 2007)

Google says Viacom is abusing DMCA (31 March 2007)

NFL violates DMCA with takedown notice (23 March 2007)

YouTube to host video awards (19 March 2007)

EFF takes on DMCA abusers (18 March 2007)

Viacom lawyer strikes back at Google, YouTube (17 March 2007)

YouTube in trouble again (13 March 2007)

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Discuss this article!
Blackjax (Member) 13 March 2007 21:22
Can you say clash of the titans...... oops that's not a viacom "product" is it? [ + quote]
badblud (Member) 14 March 2007 3:56
hah..i think gooogle will get out the mess.they gt bucks ta 082 2.71>>2.71 henc>>1.5>>3.02OEA>>OEB>>3.03OEA>>OEB>>OEC [ + quote]
georgeluv (Member) 14 March 2007 4:36
Quote: He also pointed out that a Judge cited "safe harbor" protections previously in dismissing a lawsuit involving copyright issues filed by Nevada attorney Blake Field against the company. who are these dudes the teflan dons of piracy? google is nasty in the courtroom they get aces all the time. one court appearance, another lawsuit THROWN OUT! stick that up your ass and smoke it viacom! [ + quote]
trainmstr (Newbie) 14 March 2007 20:32
honest ...with viacoms only model of profit is us ... the consumer ... they do no favor for their ways of profit pissing off the very base that pays their salaries. what a bunch of whining bastards. to hell with viacom ..ill never buy anything even touched by them again. and yeah ... google has billions in cash reserves with zero debt ...a shame they gotta spend money defending against frivolous crap like this ... but im sure they will win. i guess these media giants are used to bullying their way around ... but wait ..google is the new king ..and basically can keep up the good fight for a long long time. [ + quote]