YouTube Backlash

The video-sharing giant is facing legal action from a bevy of major organisations over alleged copyright infringement.

YouTube is in trouble over the appearance on their site of copyrighted material without the permission of their creators. Although the website maintains that they have not made any infringement of copyright laws as it removes the clips as soon as they become aware of their appearance on the site. Now however the National Musical Publishers’ Association (NMPA) is yet another party which has just joined the legal action against the website. YouTube is being sued by a combined body which includes Viacom and Nickelodeon, the FA Premier League, Paramount Pictures and Comedy Central. The case will be heard in New York and the many suing companies are seeking damages for the money lost through the unapproved screening of their work. The NMPA in particular has spoken out against the website, with the chief executive of the company, which is a major American music industry body, saying he is very concerned about the website’s attitude towards copyright. The organisation has explained that they have joined the legal action in order to protect the work of music publishers and songwriters from being used by the site without permission or compensation.

YouTube continues to maintain they have done nothing wrong, and this will be for the judge to decide, but questions have been asked as to whether the site can withstand yet another bashing. The legal action follows in the wake of further accusations against the website in the past few weeks, which have included claims that they are responsible for the increase in cyber bullying, and for promoting juvenile violence through the screening of child fight videos. Will this be one blow too far? Well their mammoth numbers of users don’t seem to think so, but if they are stopped from watching their favourite shows, music and football online for free, will they continue to be so loyal? We’ll just have to wait and see.

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