Wednesday, 4 April 2007

Google Accuses Viacom of Abusing Copyright Act

The copyright infringement spat between Google and Viacom continues with both the companies slashing out at each other verbally. YouTube, which is owned by Google now, has sought shelter under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), said Viacom general counsel Michael Fricklas. According to him, YouTube has no right to defend its position claiming that YouTube’s customers are unaware that copyright breaching takes place on the site while the company itself remains ignorant of the fact.

Google has not taken this accusation sitting down, Managing Counsel Michael Kwun for Google said, "an attack on the way people communicate on the Web and on the platforms that allow people to make the Internet their own". He said Viacom is violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

On the other hand Fricklas has written. "YouTube's own terms of use give it clear rights". He continued, "notably the right to take anything down. YouTube actively monitors its content. For example, its managers remove pornography and hate content and, as was recently reported, claim they can detect and remove 'spam.' Without knowledge and control, how could YouTube create 'channels' and 'featured videos' sections on its site? YouTube has even offered to find infringing content for copyright owners - but only if they do a licensing deal first."