Life Is Challenge

YouTube is Guilty or Innocent?

YouTube has become one of the most popular websites in a short time. However, YouTube has faced the unexpected problem, infringement of copyright. According to the article “YouTube and the copyright cops: safe… for now?” written by K. Fisher, YouTube is involved in the infringement of copyright. The BBC had a similar problem and was legally restrained, the article said. However, according to the article, legal actions have not been taken against YouTube. In addition, YouTube hasn’t showed advertisements on webpages where unauthorized video clips are posted, says the article. However, it is still controversial whether YouTube violates copyright. I believe that YouTube is not guilty because YouTube just provides the space to post video clips, and YouTube hasn’t made profits by using unauthorized video clips.

First, YouTube just provides the space where the users can post video clips. Actually, YouTube itself hasn’t done anything involved in infringement of copyright directly. It is YouTube users that have posted movie clips illegally. Additionally, YouTube doesn’t allow people to download the video clips, so people just can watch them. If a tenant committed a crime in his or her house, it’s not a landlord’s responsibility. We can’t insist that the landlord is guilty just because the place of the crime belongs to the landlord. Equivalently, YouTube provides its users only with virtual space.

Second, YouTube hasn’t made profits by using unauthorized movies. YouTube hasn’t earned money directly by using unauthorized video clips. In the article, Lohmann said that YouTube hasn’t put advertisements on the pages where movie clips are posted. Movie making companies’ allegation that YouTube is making money by their movies is unreasonable. Even if YouTube shows some advertisements on the pages where there are movie clips, YouTube is not guilty. Many people can visit places where celebrities go often. Those places are a good place for business. Then if someone runs a business there, they don’t have to pay part of their profits to celebrities. Similarly, advertisements are just posted on the popular pages of YouTube.

In conclusion, YouTube has been involved in the problem related to copyright. Some movies have been posted on YouTbue illegally. However, unlike the case of BBC, YouTube has been safe until now. YouTube itself hasn’t posted unauthorized movies. Furthermore, YouTube hasn’t made profits from them. Therefore, I believe that YouTube is not guilty.

posted by Allen Koh @ 10:33 AM