Google ordered to hand over YouTube user information

[neonlyte]

If you've viewed YouTube your records are about to be handed over to Viacom.

Are they going to sue all individuals who viewed copyright material?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7488009.stm

Can't see this ruling being upheld by a higher court.

 

[oggbashan]

The Manhattan Court can now be sued by UK and European users under the terms of the UK's Data Protection Act and European privacy legislation.

This story will run and run...

Og

 

[Zeb_Carter]

So...because I viewed it the think they can sue me????

Hey, I didn't put it there, as far as I'm concerned they can kiss my shiny metal ass. Oh wait...they can kiss my rosy pink ass.

 

[The_Fractal_King]

I don't see how they think they can get away with this. At the very least they must be going well beyond their legal reach simply YouTube has users outside of the US.

 

[oggbashan]

I don't see how they think they can get away with this. At the very least they must be going well beyond their legal reach simply YouTube has users outside of the US.

That's not the position of the US government and judiciary.

They consider that they have jurisdiction everywhere and that extraordinary rendition, or a one-sided extradition treaty with the UK, gives them the right to prosecute under US law, anyone, anywhere even if that individual has never set foot on US soil.

Og

 

[voluptuary_manque]

That's not the position of the US government and judiciary.

They consider that they have jurisdiction everywhere and that extraordinary rendition, or a one-sided extradition treaty with the UK, gives them the right to prosecute under US law, anyone, anywhere even if that individual has never set foot on US soil.

Og

The US isn't the only one. Spain started it off when they went after Pinochet. Then Italy went after some CIA agents. International law has become a farce.

 

[cheerful_deviant]

I would suspect that what they are really after is not who has been watching what as individuals, but rather how many individuals have watched (either in whole or in parts), the video of "(fill in the blank)" that was copywrited material. That way they can put a dollar value on the copyright infringement/revnue lost and sue YouTube, the person who posted it, Google for locating it, service providor for allowing it etc.

I doubt the end user who only watched said clip will be targeted. I can't see suing everyone in the world being terribly good for PR.

 

[colddiesel]

Lawyers Picnic

I would suspect that what they are really after is not who has been watching what as individuals, but rather how many individuals have watched (either in whole or in parts), the video of "(fill in the blank)" that was copywrited material. That way they can put a dollar value on the copyright infringement/revnue lost and sue YouTube, the person who posted it, Google for locating it, service providor for allowing it etc.

I doubt the end user who only watched said clip will be targeted. I can't see suing everyone in the world being terribly good for PR.

I agree but there are millions to be paid in legal fees in determining how and where to draw the line. My bet is that Lawyers will make more from this than Viacom.

 

[neonlyte]

I'd be interested to know what restrictions the court placed upon Viacom's use of the information, the only statement says Viacom will not use and does not seek personal information, yet the court has ordered the surrender of user ID's and computer IP's; that sounds to me to be a potential security risk to anyone that has accessed YouTube. A number exercise is one thing... at little trust wouldn't have gone amiss here, Google could have told them X number of users, Y number of downloads of supposedly infringed copyright...

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I would suspect that what they are really after is not who has been watching what as individuals, but rather how many individuals have watched (either in whole or in parts), the video of "(fill in the blank)" that was copywrited material. That way they can put a dollar value on the copyright infringement/revnue lost and sue YouTube, the person who posted it, Google for locating it, service providor for allowing it etc.

I doubt the end user who only watched said clip will be targeted. I can't see suing everyone in the world being terribly good for PR.

And the counter to that would be the person or persons who watched it wouldn't have if it wasn't on youtube or some other site. I'm cheap, I admit.