Veoh Sick Of Waiting For Lawsuit; Pre-emptively Sues Universal Music
from the stop-with-the-threats dept
Speaking of Edgar Bronfman and Universal Music being confused about the market, it appears that the company is being sued by online video site Veoh. This one requires going back a little and looking at the history to understand what's happening. In September last year, Universal Music Group CEO Doug Morris made the ridiculous claim that YouTube and MySpace owed Universal Music millions because they were hosting videos that contained Universal's music. Note that this wasn't about downloadable (or even streamed) song files. It's about videos that happen to have Universal music in the background. There's no credible way for Universal to claim that anyone was using music in such a video as a substitute for actually purchasing music. If anything, these videos help promote the music. This was, clearly, a blatant money grab (and one that would actually tend to cut off the promotional value of these videos).Soon after this, Google bought YouTube, and as a part of the deal had them pay off Universal Music and the other labels. A rumored part of the deal was that the record labels would not sue YouTube, but would sue YouTube competitors. Universal Music obliged, suing smaller sites Bolt and Grouper. There was an attempted settlement, but problems with the settlement quashed a potential acquisition for Bolt recently. A month later, Universal also sued MySpace. Basically, it's decided to shake down every online video service, hoping for some cash settlements even though it would probably lose in court.
Last month, apparently, Universal Music alerted Veoh that it was "considering" suing the company for "massive copyright infringement," though it failed to provide any details. It's a typical shakedown situation. Basically a threat with nothing to back it up other than a "you wouldn't want to end up like those other websites, now would you?" implied threat. Veoh apparently decided to fight back. Rather than wait for Universal Music to file a lawsuit, it's gone to a judge to ask for a declaratory judgment that Veoh's service is perfectly legal under the DMCA safe harbor provisions. It's great to see at least one company stand up to Universal on this one -- especially after the disappointment of Google paying off the record labels on this issue. Hopefully the judge recognizes the issues at stake.
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Filed Under: copyright, dmca, infringement, music, safe harbor, videos, youtube
Companies: google, myspace, universal music, veoh, youtube
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Good for them
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Re: Good for them
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Re:
I've found several excellent sites because of lawsuits, in fact, maybe that's why I read about it so much :)
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I think we should start a movement...
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Men of Straw
Who says that's what Universal's claiming? All copyrighted music which is broadcast must be licensed, even if it's only in the background. Since placing a video up on a site such as Veoh or GooTube is ostensibly "broadcasting" it, Universal is within their rights to demand removal and file compensation claims for unlicensed use. Muddying the perfectly good arguments against RIAA and its members with spurious and incorrect claims about their other activities plays right into their hands.
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Re: Men of Straw
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Re: Men of Straw
Not saying that's what Universal is claiming in the lawsuit. I'm just putting the entire thing in perspective. Whenever these lawsuits come out, the RIAA always likes to say how it's protecting the artists from thieves -- and I was just trying to point out that in this case, that's a ridiculous argument.
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Re: Men of Straw
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Give me a break....
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Re: Give me a break....
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Re: Re: Give me a break....
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Not a threat, a promise.
If I see the word 'theft' linked to copyright infringement one more time, I'm going to kill a kitten. :-/
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Re: Not a threat, a promise.
http://picasaweb.google.com/CharlesGriswold/Posters/photo#5097635049934201218
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Content Provider, not Service Provider
"you hereby grant Veoh a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, sublicensable and transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display, publish, perform and transmit the User Material in connection with the Veoh Service."
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Re: Content Provider, not Service Provider
the DMCA clearly states that any website can not be held responsible for what users put up and as long as they respond to (legitimate) take down notices, they are legally in the clear...
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Re: Men of Straw
Mike: the perspective is off here. No one thinks that Universal lost any money but that's not the point. Had you written about the DMCA and Safe Harbour that would've been one thing. Instead you chose to to imply Universal has no concern in this since the music is "only in the background" which is patently false. All copyrighted works used for broadcast material require clearances and licenses.
Should Universal go after Veoh? Of course not. They should send a take-down notice and perhaps go after the poster, but they most certainly do have an interest and the right to demand money for the use of their copyrighted works in a broadcast performance.
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Re: Re: Men of Straw
Yes, actually, it is EXACTLY the point. It's showing how dumb it is that we have to pay these companies for situations where they're not even losing money.
Had you written about the DMCA and Safe Harbour that would've been one thing
I pointed to that as well. But both points are important.
All copyrighted works used for broadcast material require clearances and licenses.
That's not true. There is still fair use. However, the point is that it doesn't make sense that these types of licenses should be required. Just because the law says something doesn't mean it makes sense.
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Myspace
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Videos/Music usage
I suspect I'm not alone in this. Especially when the video and music grab you enough to go out and purchase the original song content Whether via a cd, via iTunes or similar.
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