THE PRACTICE - GOOGLE UNVEILS COPYRIGHT FILTERING SYSTEM

GOOGLE UNVEILS COPYRIGHT FILTERING SYSTEM

Google on Monday unveiled what it called "YouTube Video Identification" aimed at making it easier for movie and TV copyright owners to prevent the unauthorized use of their material on Google's YouTube site. "We're delighted that Google appears to be stepping up to its responsibility and ending the practice of profiting from infringement," Mike Fricklas, general counsel of Viacom, told the Wall Street Journal. Viacom, whose holdings include Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks, MTV, and Comedy Central, has filed a $1-billion lawsuit against YouTube alleging copyright infringement. Fricklas did not indicate whether the video identification system would affect the lawsuit. The filtering technology also permits copyright owners to leave their content on YouTube but share any advertising revenue derived from it.

16/10/2007