The YouTube crackdown begins

I’ve just been looking for footage of the recent fight between the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets basketball teams, which was a full-on brawl where players ended up head-first in the seats and 15-match bans were handed out.

But it wasn’t on YouTube as expected. Instead, up came this message:

‘This video has been removed at the request of copyright owner National Basketball Association because its content was used without permission’

I expect it’s the thin end of the wedge, and all the talk earlier this year about copyright lawyers getting involved with YouTube was rather prescient.

Which is a shame, as the beauty of the website is that when someone says, “Have you seen Matty Taylor’s volley?” you can say, “No, but I’ll look it up,” rather than just, “No,” then sit in stony silence.

But it’s clear these glory days are coming to an end. Bah humbug.home loans about naca loan hardship 401k alistair sloan for amortization loans student chart va loans car alexandria banks loans amegy bank forgiveness loans acs loan and perkins 5000.00 credit loan bad for Map

Arena — 20/12/06 Category: Sport

4 Comments »

I guess when Google bought YouTube, this was always likely to happen. YouTube had very little cash before it was bought, and so lawyers didn’t even see the point of litigation…it kept YouTube under the radar a little.

Now - at $500 a share - Google are a much better target, and the copyright lawyers would love to make a name in that sort of fight.

Comment by mattr — 20/12/06
The short dude with the black armband playing for the Knicks is pathetic. He tries to camp slap someone (and misses) then does nothing more than jump around acting like a ‘G’ probably issuing wild (read: empty) threats about bussin’ caps in various people’s asses. Even I could knock the fella out….

Comment by Joe — 21/12/06
surely it will all just diversify again. if you want to get something online, usually, you can find it.
youtube’s days as a pioneer may be over but someone will step in and give us a more refined version of what it is we want.
in the meantime i’m off to find some trans-gender midget porn.

Comment by tom.hills — 21/12/06
The fight has nothing on Pacers-Pistons brawl a few seasons back. Fans throw beer on players. Players laying the smackdown on fans. Cue final whistle. And 71 game suspension for Artest. Good fun.

Comment by Boyce — 22/12/06