Yesterday, Google issued a response to the $1 billion lawsuit Viacom filed against YouTube for "massive copyright infringement." In short, Google's response alleges the following:
"By seeking to make carriers and hosting providers liable
for Internet communications, Viacom's complaint threatens the
way hundreds of millions of people legitimately exchange
information, news, entertainment and political and artistic
expression,"
Google held a news conference in Mountain View, where managing counsel Michael Kwun said the lawsuit should have never been filed. One of Google's key defenses is the safe harbor provision in the DMCA, and Kwun was quick to point out the irony of the situation. According to a Business Week article, Kwun said of Viacom:
"These are the very people that helped to design the law. Suddenly,
they don't want to live with the other end of the deal."
It will be interesting to see how this shakes out. I've picked a side, and here's a hint: the name of the folks I'm cheering for doesn't start with a "V" and end with "iacom."
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