NBC Universal Joins Viacom In YouTube Fight

In a friend of the court filing, NBC Universal has joined Viacom and videographer Robert Tur (who sued YouTube last year over the use of his 1992 Los Angeles riot footage) in the fight against Google/YouTube. NBC Universal’s statement read:

“YouTube actively manipulates and modifies the content in ways that the uploading user clearly does not, including copying, reformatting, and adapting the works... further disseminating them… In operating its own commercial Website, YouTube engages in activities that are reserved to the copyright holder.”

The timing of the legal brief comes just as NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker tries to right the ship in the aftermath of the Don Imus situation and falling ratings. It might seem like the old guard (read: network TV) is just trying to save its old hide. But Google/YouTube has yet to effectively answer some important questions about protecting copyright of content creators.

Case in point: This past weekend, thousands paid to watch the De La
Hoya/Mayweather fight on HBO's pay-per-view. When a friend asked me if I had seen it, I said "No, but wait a minute..." After 30 seconds I was watching the last round of the fight on YouTube free-of-charge. The video has since been removed, but the fact remains—I didn't
"pay-per-view."