Blog Insights: YouTube and the copyright dilemma

What bloggers are saying about the latest in information technology



YouTube has become massively popular as hundreds of thousands of users seek out their 15 minutes of fame on the popular video-sharing site. A brief review of its content reveals that most of it is forgettable and self-indulgent, although there are a few diamonds in the rough. As a vehicle for emerging artists to disseminate their work easily, YouTube has its place. I'm reminded of my younger days in the Haight-Ashbury, sitting around dark coffeehouses and reading our own (also forgettable and self-indulgent) poetry just for the sake of the experience and camaraderie. You may not get the same social experience with YouTube, but the element of having a vehicle for sharing your work is the same. It's something all writers and artists need. Some have called YouTube the "Internet's first real entertainment network" -- I wouldn't go quite that far, but it does have potential.

Regrettably, YouTube has become less of a vehicle for emerging artists, and more of a platform for slapped-together pieces of copyright infringement, created by provocateurs who loudly insist that since they are small and the copyright holders are large, they therefore have the right to infringe with impunity. These artists misunderstand the most basic concept of the copyright, which are, after all, for their own protection, should they ever have the good fortune to create something that brings them a paycheck. Copyright laws by their nature are designed to protect those who own a creative work, whether the copyright holder is a billion dollar corporation, or a self-publisher disseminating their own work on a small scale. I know it's stylish to decry the actions of large corporations, but fair is fair, and if you own it, you have the right to say where it goes, no matter how large or small you may be.

Today, an AP article reported that Viacom asked YouTube to remove over 100,000 clips that infringe on Viacom copyrights, after the two companies failed to come to any agreement on controlling unauthorized videos or providing compensation for copyrighted content. YouTube has also agreed in recent months to delete files after similar requests have been made by the Japan Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers, as well as Universal Music Group. The latter went so far as to call YouTube a hub for pirated music videos.

Sign up for ITworld's Daily newsletter
Follow ITworld on Twitter @IT_world

• Email
• Print
• Share
  • Slashdot
  • Digg
  • Stumble
  • Reddit
  • Newsvine