Google came under the article. Viacom filed a Youtube claims to $ 1 billion Bashny.Net

On Tuesday, the media group Viacom sued Google in US District Court in New York due to the "repeated intentional copyright infringement." The reason - the publication on the website YouTube (owned by Google) video clips from TV programs, rights are owned by Viacom.
Viacom - the American media holding, which includes TV Famous Music, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, and others. The company's revenue in 2006 increased by 19%, to 11, 5 bln., Net profit rose 27%, to 1, $ 6 billion. YouTube - video hosting service. In October last year, YouTube was acquired by Google for 1, 65 billion dollars.

Viacom estimates the damage caused to Google in the US $ 1 billion. In a statement, Viacom said that YouTube site uses the objects of copyright in order to enrich themselves. In addition to damages Viacom insisted on a total ban on the publication of the videos on the site. In February, Viacom demanded from YouTube has been removed more than 100 thousand. Clips from the television media holding. YouTube has agreed to these demands and promised to remove the clips from the site. The promise was fulfilled only partially.

Viacom announced yesterday that at the moment on YouTube hosts more than 160 thousand. Media holding clips, while the total number of them to display more than 1, 5 billion times. Viacom said that YouTube's business model is contrary to the copyright laws, and filed a lawsuit. On Tuesday, the price of Google shares on the NASDAQ decreased by 0, 8%, to 451, $ 12. The action Viacom also has fallen in price by 1, 0% to 39, $ 15., On the New York Stock Exchange. Reuters reported .

Google is not the first time and incur expenses in connection with allegations of copyright infringement. Last autumn, the Belgian media has filed a number of lawsuits against the company, PRIME-TASS reported. They reported that Google provides access to materials posted on the website of the publication without prior subscription or payment. The publishers insisted on compensation in the amount of 130 million euros. In February this year, a Belgian court found justified claims of publishers and Google fined 3 million euros. In early March of this year, with accusations of copyright infringement by Google made Microsoft. The company said that with the help of the search engine Google, in particular, you can find pirated audio and video files. Last year, Universal Music announced its intention to sue YouTube for illegally putting some videos. Subsequently, however, the company reached an agreement.

Expert on copyright Poleshko Alexander noted that the use of materials of TV programs is possible only with the permission of its creator. The copyright on the TV program are contiguous, and in Russia, such a program can be used without consent of the owner, only 50 years after its creation.

Alexander Dementiev

Source: RBC Daily

via rbcdaily.ru