Why Laywers Don't Work In Marketing: A YouTube Case Study
from the forest-for-the-trees dept
Along with the spike in YouTube's popularity has come a spike in takedown requests as lawyers look to get their companies' content off the service. As we pointed out, the lawyers don't always understand that the promotional value of sharing content can often trump legal concerns, and that lawyers are acting without consulting business or marketing folks. Apparently, YouTube says that's not uncommon -- as many of the companies whose lawyers asking for their content to be taken down have marketing arms that are talking about partnerships or even uploading the videos themselves. The viral marketing YouTube enables is just the sort of thing these companies are looking for to drive users back to their content, but their lawyers' shortsightedness won't let it happen.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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not true in all cases
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Lawyers...
Anyone remember how valuable it was to have someone advertise your product not only for free, but with enthusiasum?
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That's why they do what they do.
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Re: lawyers
a paying client's rights( real or imagined ) as jealously as a bear with cubs.
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Re:
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Yes, but ...
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Lawyers are the leeches of society
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Clients
That said, I agree with the main point that IP owners could become more sophisticated about viral marketing. IP owners do have the right to decide, in any case.
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A cynical view
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A realistic view
Also, yes, Lawyers bill for the time that you spend with them, even if it is just a phone call. of course we do. You guys get paid by the hour, and if you take a phone call during this time yo get paid. Why isnt it fair that we should get paid as well? That makes no sense - we get paid by you for our time that you take up, time that would otherwise be spent doing other work. Remember, all lawyers are self employed and every minute of their lives requires a cost-benefit analysis. Don't think its an easy life.
Anyone else see the irony of the above poster calling LAWYERS the leeches of society in an article about MARKETING? Dear lord people are ignorant.
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Re: A realistic view
While I do agree that lawyers have every right to make a living at their trade, I think most people a problem with
a) the rate at which they charge. I received an itemized bill from my lawyer that actually contained a $50.00 charge for a 10 minute phone consult. Come on, I can call my doctor at 3am and get his advice for free! I understand having to make a living but I don't want to feel like I'm being sucked dry!
b) it seems like (my perception anyway) that law today perpetuates nothing more than the fact that you need a lawyer to understand it. I dunno, in my eutopia it should be possible to start a business or something without having to require an attorney. I think the biggest disservice we do is that most of the people we elect to make laws are lawyers, hence there's really very little impetus to make the law accessible to the common man. Hell, I have 2 Masters Degrees in hard core sciences and I can barely get through my tax forms without 2 advils and a short nap to stop my head from spinning!
c) Lawyers are great for those with the money to pay for them. However, most people I know can't afford to pay someone $100.00 or more an hour to work a case for them, considering anything more complicated than a single office consult could mean hours and hours of work on the lawyers part. Lawyers work for the rich and for corporations, the poor and disadvantaged of society get run over by them, the ones who need them the most probably. Again, just my opinion.
But marketing people have never claimed to be anything else but glorified salespeople. There's an honesty to the trade, not necessarily the tactics. A marketing person can look you straight in the face and say my goal and job is to convince you to buy my product.
I'm sorry my friend but your profession is kind of like the dentist. Yes, lawyers are needed, but you're going to be hard pressed to ever get the general population to rise up and call for the "We Love The Lawyers" Day.
I'm sorry for the soapbox but any comment trying to illicite sympathy for lawyers draws a cautious eye from me.
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Re: A realistic view
and yeah i see the irony of the above poster calling LAWYERS the leeches of society in an article about MARKETING.
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Sounds like...
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news.google
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1778139,00.asp
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Ummmmm...
I mean, seriously - youtube doesn't allow people to download the videos - they can only play them on their site - and post the code for other sites.
It's not really file sharing since nothing is getting downloaded.
gayer the slayer.
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Re: Ummmmm...
[I'm the evil queen. If you don't have anything nice to say, come sit next to me]
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Re: Ummmmm...
This story is having sex with other stories?
You Tube is attracted to other YouTube sites?
Confused.
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