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Viacom Demands That YouTube Remove 100,000 Video Clips

Feb 2, 2007  •  Post A Comment

Viacom has demanded that YouTube remove 100,000 clips from the video-sharing site immediately.

“After months of ongoing discussion with YouTube and Google, it has become clear that YouTube is unwilling to come to a fair market agreement,” according to a statement from Viacom, which owns MTV, Comedy Central and other cable networks.

The clips in question have been streamed by YouTube users 1.2 billion times, Viacom said in a statement Friday. Viacom’s demand that YouTube remove the videos highlights the tension between traditional media companies that want to be compensated for their copyright content and video-sharing sites that host the clips without authorization.

YouTube Friday afternoon confirmed it would comply with Viacom’s request.

“We prohibit users from uploading infringing material, and we cooperate with all copyright holders to identify and promptly remove infringing content as soon as we are officially notified,” said a YouTube spokesperson.

Viacom said it hopes to come to a fair, authorized distribution model with YouTube and Google that will allow consumers to make its content available on all media platforms. YouTube has struck deals with some content owners to feature their content legally. In recent months, YouTube signed licensing deals with CBS, NBC, the National Hockey League, Universal Music Group, Sony BMG and Warner Bros.

Viacom operates its own Web sites where some content from its cable networks is available.

“Our Internet portfolio has more visitors than any other entertainment company and we are always seeking distribution relationships to ensure that any of our products and services are easily accessible on every platform,” Viacom said.

(Editor: Baumann)