20 January 2009

YouTube riding high despite copyright updates

YouTube has updated its copyright policy by removing audio from videos which feature unauthorised music.

The news that the site will 'mute' videos featuring unauthorised songs comes a month after negotiations between YouTube and Warner Music Group collapsed. The negotiations were over Warner artists receiving royalty payments when their music featured on YouTube videos.

YouTube have claimed that the new rules will apply to all videos with unauthorised content on the site, however at the moment the majority of affected videos feature music by Warner artists such as Coldplay.

YouTube has said that the decision to remove audio from these videos is an improvement on the previous process whereby infringements of copyright would lead to videos being removed from the site entirely. A YouTube spokesperson explained:

"Previously, when a music label or other rights owner issued a copyright claim to block audio, the video was automatically taken down. Uploaders had two choices: dispute the claim or use our AudioSwap tool to replace the track with one from our library of pre-cleared music.

Now we've added an additional choice. Instead of automatically removing the video from YouTube, we give users the option to modify the video by removing the music subject to the copyright claim and post the new version, and many of them are taking that option."

This decision has angered some users who feel YouTube is betraying its users in order to satisfy the music industry. Some experts warn that this decision could have implications for the future of the site. Greg Sandoval, digital entertainment correspondent for Cnet commented "If YouTube can't cut new agreements with the other record companies [to license their music for use on the site], YouTube could bring back a new era in silent pictures".

In other YouTube related news, it seems as though the site has taken a step closer to joining the video download market. A 'click to download' link appears next to the weekly address videos on the US President-elect Barack Obama's YouTube page. At the moment this download option only seems to be available on these specific videos, so we will just have to wait and see if this feature is rolled out across the site.

It seems as though Barack Obama isn't the only big name with a YouTube page these days, with news this week that Pope Benedict XVI is to launch his very own YouTube channel. The channel will feature videos of the Pope's speeches and news about the Holy See which will be uploaded by Vatican radio and television. The Vatican also has its own website which was launched in 1995, and features a webcam on St Peter's Square.

The Pope and Obama will be in good company on YouTube (or should that be Royal company) as the British Royal Household also have their very own video channel which was launched in 2007.

It really seems like anyone who is anyone these days is embracing YouTube.

Home | Careers | RSS | Contact Us | Newsletter

International sites: