YouTube filtering system almost ready

by Peter White Apr 17th 2007

There is copyrighted material on YouTube. TV and movie executives don't want it there. Why not? Because it's costing them money. If nothing is done then surely YouTube will be the downfall of the entire film and television industry. Clearly it is the short clips uploaded by users that is hurting the entertainment world and not the ever-accessible bit-torrent and P2P sharing. No, the short teasers that -- assuming the show/movie is quality -- make people want to watch the rest of the content is the culprit. Shut it down before it's too late.

Anyway, that is beside the point. CEO Eric Schmidt announced today that Google is very close to turning on a system that will automatically identify copyrighted material when it is uploaded. This filtering system, which he referred to as 'Claim Your Content', was supposed to have been launched last year at YouTube but is yet to be rolled out. Schmidt made the announcement yesterday at the National Association of Broadcasters conference, where he seemed unfazed even in the face of the $1 billion lawsuit filed by Viacom last month against Google. He even went so far as to take a couple of shots at the always easy yet always deserving target that is Microsoft after they voiced concerns about Google's size and the safety of privacy on the Web.

When Microsoft's concerns were brought up, Schmidt responded with a coy "Microsoft?" Which, of course, is the appropriate response. But only because it isn't physically possible to slap the entire Microsoft Corporation as a whole.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Swiper said 1:09PM on 4-17-2007

I'm confused. Is the filtering system a good thing or not?

If it's NOT a good thing, why are you taking shots at Microsoft and not Google?

And if it IS a good thing, doesn't that make Microsoft's concerns legitimate?

Peter said 10:42AM on 5-01-2007

"No, the short teasers that -- assuming the show/movie is quality -- make people want to watch the rest of the content is the culprit."

You're missing the whole point of copyright. The material belongs to the copyright holder and they are free to do whatever they want with it. If that means not showing trailers to ANYONE that is their right. Just because you think you are doing them a favor by distributing their material doesn't mean you have the right to do so.

If I want to, I could make the world's greatest film and lock it up in my basement so no one can ever watch it. The fact that you might think everyone should see it is irrelevant, it's my film and I can do whatever I want with it.

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