Universal Music chief Doug Morris launched a loud salvo at YouTube, warning the upstart Internet firm that it could come into the legal crosshairs of the world’s largest music company.
YouTube, the prolific swapper of videos online, consistently violates the music industry’s copyrights when it allows users to post videos, Morris said in a speech at a Merrill Lynch conference in California.
Morris’ cage-rattling could signal the first legal fight on behalf of a major content company against YouTube, which was founded less than two years ago but has quickly become the dominant online video site. According to industry data, some 60 percent of videos viewed online come from YouTube.
A mega-lawsuit over copyrights would complicate YouTube’s plans to sell itself to a major media company or launch an initial public offering.
Its funny how one can’t listen to more than a 15-30 second clip of a song on i-Tunes, yet slap a picture on a track and call is a video and you can listen`to anything on Youtube.. Although certain features came along identifying musicians, film makers, … are independant record labels & artists really able to use this medium as a source of revenu other than from promotional source (like the major catalogues ) ?