Viacom Strikes Google, YouTube with Lawsuit
03/13/2007 09:44 | News
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Just about everyone who's been following the Viacom/Google-YouTube drama are aware of just how close a deal was to being cut. Earlier this year, the anticipation was that Viacom would soon begin distributing its work on Google's YouTube. Viacom is the parent of many popular TV networks, such as MTV, Comedy Central, VH1, and Spike TV. It doesn't take a stroke of genius to casually troll YouTube and find various programming from these networks.

However there are far fewer instances of what Viacom calls infringing material lately, as YouTube responded to an October demand to remove various Comedy Central clips. The heat was turned up in February, when Viacom once again demanded that YouTube remove over 100,000 video clips.

These demands punctuated throughout the Viacom/YouTube negotiation process. Seemingly frustrated at YouTube's progress, Viacom stunningly backed out of any possible distribution deal and instead opted to sign on with the lesser known "Joost."

"After months of ongoing discussions with YouTube and Google, it has become clear that YouTube is unwilling to come to a fair market agreement that would make Viacom content available to YouTube users," Viacom said in a statement. "Filtering tools promised repeatedly by YouTube and Google have not been put in place, and they continue to host and stream vast amounts of unauthorized video."

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