DMCA isn't what they think it is...

So, Viacom has been in an eternal struggle with YouTube over some of the videos posted to the sites, entirely user-uploaded content. With well over billions of videos on YouTube, Viacom sought $1 Billion for alleged copyright infringement by YouTube, the Google owned company.

Viacom, a sinking ship of entertainment just like the RIAA and MPAA... They are relying on 12 year old laws for things that are happening today. The DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) has its flaws, but it for the most part protects the end-user from tyrants like the RIAA and MPAA, and now Viacom.

Viacom sought to make it "illegal" for things like Anime-Music Videos or, re-posting a music video that was freely downloadable. This kind of PETTY behavior from these major corporations is a sign of desperation in my opinion. They WERE the champs, now that its cheaper, easier and much more desirable in the industry to get digital sales, it begs the attention of everyone who has lost a slice of the pie.

Now, if I were as rich as them, had my private jet, and tons of other delicacies, I'd fight to keep it too. The sad fact of the matter is, courts don't care about them. And rightfully so. They seek punishment of things like AMV's and re-posts of music video's. To the whole Piracy thing especially to the MPAA and RIAA. TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT WHAT YOUR USERS ARE DOWNLOADING. They download quality rips, 320cbr mp3, 5000+kbps 1080p Blu-Ray, FLAC audio... Offer these, and your customers will come. Because you don't... you seek to cut corners, to take an edge, or to charge outrageous prices for things because its "intellectual property". Lets negotiate the endearment of the term property for a minute. I buy land, that is my land... its not "the banks on loan to me". Its my land. I can do what with it, within the confines of the law (IE no growing drugs, or human sacrifice, things like that).

This CD/DVD/VideoGame/FilmReel... If I paid money for it, to own it, then it is mine. Not yours. If you were to come into my house and steal it, you would get the cops called on you for burglary because it is not your property, regardless of how much you argue intellectual property, its a thin veil for them to consider themselves special. No one considers themselves entertainers anymore. Entertainers seek to entertain, not get caught in the nonsense of the right of who is being entertained. Now, the saying is you can be entertained... for the right price. And prices are exorbitant.

Viacom plans to appeal to the supreme court, but I don't think it will help any. The original article is here. Wired Article Link. And to further append the situation against Viacom, here is a quote from Center for Democracy & Technology lawyer David Sohn...

“Without this decision, user generated content would dry up and the internet would cease to be a participatory medium.”

And I 100% agree.