Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Intellectual Property Law Blogs -> Groklaw

Intellectual Property Law

: Groklaw

Viacom-YouTube Discovery Order/Docket - Update: Order as text

By Pamela Jones et al.

Viacom has won, or more accurately partially won, a motion to compel Google to turn over a lot of YouTube records so that the court can tell what proportion of videos are infringing compared to how many are not. Here's the order [PDF]. Google opposed the motion, trying to protect its users, with a Cross Motion for a Protective Order, and it was able to narrow the amount of information Viacom was granted, but it's still a lot.

The judge seems to think that what he has ordered will protect user privacy, but of course, I think he is mistaken. Again, lack of tech cluefulness strikes. For some of the reasons why it will not protect user privacy, you can read Kurt Opsahl's article. He hopes Google will appeal the order, believing that it violates the federal Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA), and it is certainly possible Google will appeal. But do you get now why I have been conducting Summer School in Fair Use? Justia has the entire docket (except for the new order) available to the public, so you can read all about it as your homework assignment.

Speaking of fair use, here's Harvard Business Review's concept -- up to 500 words from their articles. Refreshing, no?

Full post as published by Groklaw on July 03, 2008 (boomark / email).