Published: February 3, 2007
Although I'm content with Google's obsession with providing free access to all information and media, I can see how companies like Viacom would be more than angry...
Google's perspective: like I said, they want to make it all free and readily available to the public. Their hopes are to crate some kind of deal with major media companies and gain rights to copyrighted programming. This would allow them to post video clips and the like onto YouTube, a free database of both published and homemade media, and largely profit from the number of advertisers wanting a piece of the mainstreamed site. Until then, Google is using the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in its defense, taking down copyrighted material at the owner's request.
Viacom's response: "We cannot continue to let them profit from our programming" said Viacom's chief executive after failed negotiations with Google. Apparently, Google doesn't share they profits from ads on the sites with the owners of the sites presently, and none of the offers they made to Viacom were worth seriously considering.
So...Google does not have the reputation of a deceptive, money hungry corporation, so I find it hard to believe that they did not present Viacom with a generous offer. I think the media companies need to consider that Google is an industry leader right now and is showing even more promise for the future. Moreover, I don't see why these companies wouldn't want their stuff on YouTube if they are paid for the media. It's free advertising for their shows and network (for the viewers who like what they watch and become regular viewers), and so long as Google is paying them, who cares that the public can get it for free. Most sites put their TV shows and such online anyway for viewers who missed out on the Thursday-night-at-9 episode.
Although I'm content with Google's obsession with providing free access to all information and media, I can see how companies like Viacom would be more than angry...
Google's perspective: like I said, they want to make it all free and readily available to the public. Their hopes are to crate some kind of deal with major media companies and gain rights to copyrighted programming. This would allow them to post video clips and the like onto YouTube, a free database of both published and homemade media, and largely profit from the number of advertisers wanting a piece of the mainstreamed site. Until then, Google is using the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in its defense, taking down copyrighted material at the owner's request.
Viacom's response: "We cannot continue to let them profit from our programming" said Viacom's chief executive after failed negotiations with Google. Apparently, Google doesn't share they profits from ads on the sites with the owners of the sites presently, and none of the offers they made to Viacom were worth seriously considering.
So...Google does not have the reputation of a deceptive, money hungry corporation, so I find it hard to believe that they did not present Viacom with a generous offer. I think the media companies need to consider that Google is an industry leader right now and is showing even more promise for the future. Moreover, I don't see why these companies wouldn't want their stuff on YouTube if they are paid for the media. It's free advertising for their shows and network (for the viewers who like what they watch and become regular viewers), and so long as Google is paying them, who cares that the public can get it for free. Most sites put their TV shows and such online anyway for viewers who missed out on the Thursday-night-at-9 episode.
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