The Futile Efforts of Viacom

Posted on May 27, 2008
Filed Under Business, Commentary | Leave a Comment

The Futile Efforts of Viacom -Garrett Rogers over at the Zdnet blog wrote a post entitled, “Viacom is trying to break the internet”. The post is in reference to the $1 billion dollar lawsuit by Viacom against Google and Youtube in particular.

Anybody familiar with Goggle’s Youtube is aware of the fact that you can find some pretty good clips there – and all for free. What is not as apparent is that there is an interesting phenomena taking place – the community that uses Youtube is starting to police itself.

Of course Google responds to request to remove videos or to limit their availability but this is not the main way that limits are placed on video distribution. Most people respect the right of the artist to make a living and they respect the fact that hard work went into making songs and videos etc.

There has been no real documentation of the alleged claims by Viacom and other media conglomerates that Youtube is harming their profits. To the contrary, I think that Youtube has actually helped the artist who are putting out good work or who have done so in the past.

If I like a song I do not mind paying $.99 cents for it or even $1.49 cents. The point I’m trying to make is that those who can pay will usually do so and Youtube is not going to change that. Kids who get a thrill from pirating songs or movies are going to continue doing this and the Viacom police or anyone else is not going to stop this practice. It is a character issue.

The same goes for thieves such as the China connection and elsewhere – thieves are going to be thieves and prosecuting someone who has made 10,000 copies of “Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull” should happen and will happen, when they are caught. I doubt if Youtube is related to their piracy.

Viacom should reconsider their actions and spend the time, effort, and money to further develop digital distribution channels that the consumers want, and that they are willing to pay for. The handwriting is on the wall for DVDs and CDs.

Just some of my thoughts, what do you think?

Until next time, Jim

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