Google Asks Viacom To Respect User Privacy
July 07, 2008 | by Christopher Nickson
Legally forced to give up YouTube user logs, Google has asked to be allowed to anonymize those logs before producing them in court.
Viacom won the fight to gain access to YouTube user logs in its copyright infringement battle with Google, albeit with limits – according to CNET, Viacom has been told by the court that it can only use the data to prove its copyright infringement case, and can’t pursue individuals in an RIAA style, where people have been targeted for the illegal sharing of copyrighted music.
Now, ZDNet reports, Google is asking Viacom to allow it to anonymize the user logs before it has to produce them in court. In a statement, Google said:
"We are pleased the court put some limits on discovery, including refusing to allow Viacom to access users' private videos and our search technology. We are disappointed the court granted Viacom's over-reaching demand for viewing history. We are asking Viacom to respect users' privacy and allow us to anonymize the logs before producing them under the court's order."
Google and other ISPs claimed they’re protected from being responsible for the actions of those who use their services under the “safe harbor” provision of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
Post Your Comment...Comments
James B. on Jul 7th, 2008 at 9:45 PM:
I think Google needs to pay up. Look, they are making money off copyrighted content. On the other hand, giving away user logs won't accomplish anything, and it will make people lose trust in the system. Punish Google, but don't make them hand over user info - that's just wrong.
Darren on Jul 8th, 2008 at 12:22 AM:
Thanks to YouTube and other such services the media are no longer in control of the media and are looking at a way of re-gaining control of the media by preventing people from making their own home-grown videos.
Already the media have managed to kill off people doing their own internet radio stations by charging them per song, but ensuring their companies can buy one licence to cover them for the whole year at a lot less cost, now their trying the same with YouTube.
They should bring out a licence that Google could buy yearly for using the music, like shops in the UK do with the PRS licence.
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Kevin on Jul 7th, 2008 at 9:38 AM:
Like before... this case is still absurd. These people aren't selling the copyrighted material and they have no right to obtain such private materials... These fricking media companies/associations needs to sit down, throw back a few and relax. I'm so sick of hearing stories about this crap.