VIACOM SUIT: THE LAWYERS WIN

Viacom's $1-billion copyright lawsuit against Google and its YouTube subsidiary could generate a windfall for lawyers representing the companies, Forbes magazine observed on its website today (Wednesday). The magazine observed that Viacom lawyer Donald Verilli Jr. charges up to $800 per hour and that before the case is resolved legal fees could amount to $350 million or more. Sam Solomon, chief executive of Doar Litigation Consulting, told Forbes that there'll be "probably 5,000 people touching this case one way or another." While some analysts have publicly voiced suspicions that the lawsuit is merely a ploy by Viacom to extract a favorable deal from YouTube, others see the probability that it may end up in court. Says Forbes: "One reason the case could make it to trial: Both companies can afford it. Viacom is sitting on $706 million in cash, while Google has $11.24 billion laying around."

28/03/2007