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."
There's a shocker. I would have thought you loved Viacom! :)
Posted by: Paul McEnany | May 01, 2007 at 03:38 PM