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March 14, 2007 2:13 PM PDT

Copyright quagmire for Google and YouTube

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"Some of those implicate Google's core business much more squarely than this lawsuit does," Goldman said. "I can't even track all the patent cases they are involved in, but each one has the potential to be a much more serious risk to their business than this one does."

Predictably, Cuban, in a blog titled "You Go Viacom," said he hoped the suit was more than just a negotiating move. There is no "downside to Viacom to run this one out to the end. If they win the suit, they make their billion dollars, which given this lawsuit could take years, could grow to 10s of billions in damages if Gootube doesn't take any action to stop the ongoing infringing uploaders," Cuban wrote.

And if Viacom loses, he noted, it's basically back to where it is now, with a lot of YouTube users uploading its content without permission.

Analysts urge patience, as "Gootube" figures out how to play nice with the companies creating the content from which it is profiting.

"Was the acquisition a mistake? That's to be determined," said Van Baker, an analyst at Gartner. "This is one round in a 12-round battle."

See more CNET content tagged:
Viacom Inc., Mark Cuban, YouTube, media company, Google Inc.

Add a Comment (Log in or register) (4 Comments)
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Viacom is being disingenious and hypocritical
by unknown unknown March 14, 2007 3:24 PM PDT
ipdemocracy has pointed out that Viacom owns video sharing sites Atom and iFilm which both share many of the practices Viacom has criticized a now sued Google and YouTube ie making the copyright holder do the policing for infringing content a file take down notices.
http://www.ipdemocracy.com/archives/2007/03/13/#002383

Ed Felton points out they're actually arguing against the right of users to limit access to videos they upload because they can see them.

http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/?p=1136


So not only is Viacom greedy their also disingenious and hypocritical. What a company.
Glad I don't watch any of their stuff.
Reply to this comment
Would like to know your opinion...
by Fil0403 March 16, 2007 7:11 AM PDT
...if it would be Microsoft instead of Google.
Viacom is being disingenious and hypocritical
by unknown unknown March 14, 2007 3:24 PM PDT
ipdemocracy has pointed out that Viacom owns video sharing sites Atom and iFilm which both share many of the practices Viacom has criticized a now sued Google and YouTube ie making the copyright holder do the policing for infringing content a file take down notices.
http://www.ipdemocracy.com/archives/2007/03/13/#002383

Ed Felton points out they're actually arguing against the right of users to limit access to videos they upload because they can see them.

http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/?p=1136


So not only is Viacom greedy their also disingenious and hypocritical. What a company.
Glad I don't watch any of their stuff.
Reply to this comment
Would like to know your opinion...
by Fil0403 March 16, 2007 7:11 AM PDT
...if it would be Microsoft instead of Google.
(4 Comments)
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