Viacom agrees to let Youtube users remain anonymous
Holy shit you would have thought it was the end of the world a few weeks ago when Viacom asked for user information from Youtube in it’s lawsuit against them. I had more than a few heated discussions with other members on a few internet marketing forums how in my opinion, it wouldn’t happen.
The most common retort was of course in reference to Napster and the RIAA lawsuits against the poor souls who had (illegally) downloaded copyrighted material from P2P networks. I countered that the RIAA was and is, a dying business model and they were taking one last gasp at reversing the slide in the recording industy, that comparing that to the Viacom suit was like comparing apples and oranges.
Whether I’m right or wrong on that one can still be argued but the fact is that today, Viacom agreed to allow Google/Youtube to withhold or at least mask IP addresses and other identifying objects of the users who downloaded copyrighted material.
Associated PRess Internet Writer ANICK JESDANUN reported this today:
“Viacom and other copyright holders have agreed to let YouTube mask user IDs and Internet addresses when Google Inc.’s online video site hands over viewership records in a $1 billion lawsuit accusing YouTube of enabling copyright infringement……”
“Lawyers for Viacom and the other plaintiffs signed an agreement with YouTube on Monday saying they would accept measures to help YouTube preserve the anonymity of the records. Under the agreement, YouTube can swap the user logins and IP addresses with other, presumably anonymous signifiers; YouTube has a week to propose its method”
So for now at least, it seems we’re all safe after downloading video files from television shows and movies that are owned by Viacom who is suing Youtube for copyright infringement while at the same time is allowing their own shows to upload copies to Youtube.
Amazing.
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