While perusing my feeds (okay, cleaning out the 1000+ that have built up over the past week) there is a bit of a buzz around the blogosphere regarding the Google/Viacom debacle. Let’s face it- the free for all on YouTube has been officially over for some time, but the reality is that when a site is as wide open as YouTube is, it is inevitable that people will violate the rules and post whatever they see fit. The definition of copyright has changed and is constantly changing even though the laws which govern copyright have not become fluid enough to account for the issues that will be arising as the internet continues to grow. It seems that some have gotten the clue: HBO, for example, has its own YouTube Channel as do a number of other sites (70 Signs of Intelligent Life on YouTube from Open Culture). Do a search and you’ll find over 5400 uploads for “Comedy Central” most likely “illegally” posted and soon to be subject to Viacom’s Gestapo-esque search through Google’s records.  In their defense, Viacom has YouTube-like video archives on their sites where you can access such classics as Stephen Colbert’s The WORD clip on Wikiality as well as MTV bits. Here’s my take (for anyone who actually cares!), Viacom understands more than Google wants to claim or give them credit for (YouTube Lawsuit Threatens the Net) about the net. Sure, Viacom may not be exploiting the full potential of the web by limiting the usage of their videos, but at the same time, they are making some of those videos available. Maybe if we could get a reign on the free-for-all, issues such as this wouldn’t arise when people get a bit out of hand.

Picture Credit:
jonaldinger’s photostream on Flickr

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Technorati Tags: copyright, digital ethics