YouTube Sued for $13.9 Million for Copyright Infringement

[nsane.forums]

It seemed like the lawsuits were finally over for the Google owned website. That hope of finally being legally in the clear was recently dashed when French music label collecting society SPPF sued YouTube for €10 million.

There was an interesting development from the hugely popular video sharing site. A report from Billboard says that SPPF has sued YouTube saying that over 100 music videos from their catalogue appeared on the site. All this after a previous episode where SPPF demanded the content be taken down (which, consequently, were taken down) only to have the video’s be re-uploaded by their users.

French independent labels collecting society SPPF has filed a lawsuit against YouTube for alleged copyright infringement.

In a statement, the producers' body said that more than 100 music videos of its catalog, which had been taken down by YouTube in 2008 following SPPF's request, were again available on the service in some form. SPPF is claiming €10 million [$13.9 million] in damages.

Google-owned YouTube responded by pointing out that SPPF has not signed up to its Content ID technical measures to identify any infringement. In France, YouTube partners with organizations including Europacorp, AFP, and France 24 on Content ID to identify unauthorized use of content and then monetize or block it.

"We can't discuss a pending case but bear in mind that YouTube offers professional content creators and producers powerful and free tools to protect, promote and monetize their content by using Content ID," said a statement. "Many indies as well as major music companies are using these tools to protect their content in France. The protection of copyrights is best achieved by joint efforts between creators and online platforms, not by lengthy and costly lawsuits."

The statement added: "SPPF have not used Content ID to protect their content on the platform so far, although several independent labels do."

Meanwhile, SPPF also unveiled results for 2008, with a 14.9% increase in income to €14.5 million ($20.2 million). The rise was mainly due to various exceptional items and to an increase in music video income, thanks to the growth of digital terrestrial television (DTT) channels.

SPPF said it would keep focusing its efforts on neighboring rights rates. After commercial and state-owned radio channels fees were upped in 2007 and 2008, SPPF is now looking at the rate paid by public places playing recorded music. The rates are set by a dedicated body headed by a government representative.

View: Original Article

[Marik]

only 13.9 Millions ?

compared to the billions that google already owns, this is nothing but pocket change ^_^

[rashad]

Google is already losing money for running YouTube, maybe they don't care that much, but until when?

[irefay]

Google is already losing money for running YouTube, maybe they don't care that much, but until when?

Thats what I was thinking. Especialy in this econimy.

[Bizarre™]

This is another case of glass-half-empty people who obviously don't realize the potential of free advertisement :)

[shought]

I just don't understand these organizations/people. You know here in the Netherlands there was some guy who claimed that YouTube could be sued for assisting/promoting crime, because their users post videos in which crimes are shown(as simple as someone being knocked down), really, if these dirtbags(both the people who do this, upload this and who try to sue YouTube for this) would put their minds together and think of a solution that would solve this horrible society instead of trying to sue/beat the shit/crap out of people the world would be a better place.

[demonon]

Damn governments and laws are destroying the world.