Agreement reached in YouTube copyright infringement lawsuit

As we have discussed previously, when it comes to copyright, the Internet can be an especially treacherous place. From the illegal distribution of images to the pirating of software and entertainment, the Internet has made it easier than ever for copyright violations to occur. 

This point is particularly salient when it comes to intellectual property posted on YouTube. Those who have been watching YouTube for years may recall a time when it was easy to watch videos or listen to songs that users uploaded to the site without permission. Users eventually noticed that some of this content had been taken down due to copyright violation.

YouTube made it extremely easy for users to upload videos of many types of copyrighted content, sparking outrage that was brought to Google's attention in 2007, when a lawsuit broke out between the video service and Viacom, Inc.

After seven years of litigation, the landmark copyright lawsuit between Google and Viacom has been settled.

"This settlement reflects the growing collaborative dialog between our two companies on important opportunities, and we look forward to working more closely together," said the two companies in a joint statement.

The lawsuit began in 2007, when Viacom claimed that Google was posting its content to YouTube without permission. District Judge Louis Stanton decided that instead of making YouTube search for videos that are infringing on copyright, the site must comply with requests to take down copyrighted material. No money was exchanged in the recent settlement.

Copyright infringement can happen to anyone posting intellectual property online. Consulting with an Arizona small business attorney will give you the tools you need to protect your business in the event of a copyright dispute.

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