Google Claims Viacom Suit Threatens Internet

Viacom's copyright infringement lawsuit against YouTube threatens the way that hundreds of millions of people use the Internet, YouTube owner Google has said in its defense filed with the court.Last year, Viacom filed suit in a New York court alleging that YouTube profits from the posting of copyrighted content from Viacom properties such as MTV and Comedy Central. The suit asks for $1 billion in damages.

In its response, YouTube owner Google claimed that it not only complies with copyright law but goes far beyond its legal obligations. "Viacom?s lawsuit challenges the protections of the DMCA that Congress enacted a decade ago to encourage the development of services like YouTube," reads the filed defense. "Congress recognized that such services could not and would not exist if they faced liability for copyright infringement based on materials users uploaded to their services. It chose to immunize these services from copyright liability provided they are properly responsive to notices of alleged infringement from content owners."

"By seeking to make carriers and hosting providers liable for internet communications, Viacom's complaint threatens the way hundreds of millions of people legitimately exchange information, news, entertainment, and political and artistic expression," the defense continues.The Register