Finally, Common Sense on YouTube

September 18th, 2006 by Alex

I wrote last week that Universal was threatening to sue YouTube for copyright violations; as I pointed out at the time, Universal probably has a case, but it’s one that strikes me as silly, even self-defeating.

Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks so, as Warner Music today announced that it will be distributing its videos over the site, and — in what I think is the best, and most forward-thinking part of the plan — giving its blessing to any users who want to use music from Warner Music artists in their own videos.

The Financial Times reports:

Warner Music has agreed to make its library of music videos available to YouTube, marking the first time that an established record company has agreed to make its content library available to the user-generated media company.

Under the agreement, YouTube users will have full access to videos from Warner artists. They will also be permitted incorporate material from those videos into their own clips, which are then uploaded to YouTube. Warner and YouTube will share advertising revenue sold in connection with the video content. …

Sunday’s deal will coincide with the rollout by YouTube of a new filtering technology designed to monitor content from partners like Warner across its site. That technology will help determine royalties for artists and other rights holders. It will also allow YouTube to remove user-generated clips based on Warner material that the company deems offensive.

 
SMITH Magazine

SMITH Magazine is a home for storytelling.
We believe everyone has a story, and everyone
should have a place to tell it.
We're the creators and home of the
Six-Word Memoir® project.