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Viacom appeals YouTube verdict

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 12 Aug 2010 8:23 User comments (2)

Viacom appeals YouTube verdict In early 2007, media giant Viacom demanded that Google take down copyrighted content from YouTube, then and still the world's most popular video sharing site.
Afterwards, Viacom sued the site and its search giant owners for $1.2 billion USD, claiming Google facilitated uploading the copyrighted videos through YouTube while doing little to deter it.

In June Google, won the landmark case over the media companies, with a federal judge throwing out the lawsuit.

"Mere knowledge of prevalence of such activity in general is not enough," wrote Judge Louis Stanton at the time. "The provider need not monitor or seek out facts indicating such activity."

This week the conglomerate has formally appealed the decision, filing a notice with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Mahattan.



Says Viacom of the appeal: "We believe this ruling by the lower court is fundamentally flawed. After years of delay, this decision gives us the opportunity to have the Appellate Court address these issues on an accelerated basis."

The media giant is behind such hit channels like MTV and Comedy Central, and also owns the Paramount movie studio. A few of the shows that Viacom alleged were readily available on YouTube, in their entirety, were "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," "South Park," and "SpongeBob SquarePants."

Google had argued they were entitled to "safe harbor" protection under the DMCA, and Judge Stanton agreed.

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2 user comments

113.8.2010 02:33

Although I hate Google right now, Viacom needs to get the hell off Google's back not only could this appeal could technically be Double Jeopardy and also of how Mash Ups are now legal and stream them on these sites is legal so really...Viacom should stop while their ahead

213.8.2010 15:53

Originally posted by Tristan_2:
Although I hate Google right now, Viacom needs to get the hell off Google's back not only could this appeal could technically be Double Jeopardy and also of how Mash Ups are now legal and stream them on these sites is legal so really...Viacom should stop while their ahead
it wouldnt be double jeopardy, you're allowed to appeal

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