Telecinco, Spain's leading television channel, announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against the video sharing giant YouTube claiming the site has violated its intellectual property rights.
The TV station which is owned by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi added that YouTube had "refused to adopt effective measures" to stop clips of the station's programming from appearing and reappearing on the site.
"YouTube is exploiting content that belongs solely and exclusively to Telecinco," said the channel's secretary general, Mario Rodriguez in a statement. The statement went as far as to say that clips on YouTube were airing Telecinco programming before they were even broadcast in Spain.
"For this reason we have the right to order that this illegal exploitation cease and to demand economic compensation," Rodriguez said.
Telecinco said in a separate statement, "YouTube does not deny the systemic infractions of rights which are carried out in its website but it defends itself by saying they are committed by its users, not by it."
"YouTube is exploiting content that belongs solely and exclusively to Telecinco," said the channel's secretary general, Mario Rodriguez in a statement. The statement went as far as to say that clips on YouTube were airing Telecinco programming before they were even broadcast in Spain.
"For this reason we have the right to order that this illegal exploitation cease and to demand economic compensation," Rodriguez said.
Telecinco said in a separate statement, "YouTube does not deny the systemic infractions of rights which are carried out in its website but it defends itself by saying they are committed by its users, not by it."
