After one too many “unreasonable threats”, video site Veoh preemptively sued Universal Music last month in federal court, seeking a declaratory injunction to bar Universal from taking legal action. Now it seems Universal has finally made good on some of those threats.
Universal is suing the startup for copyright infringement, using some strong language in an L.A. court hearing today. Universal said, “Veoh follows in the ignominious footsteps of other recent mass infringers such as Napster”. Adding, “Veoh’s rampant infringement will not stop until Veoh, and those who own, control, and run it, are enjoined and held financially responsible”.
The suit joins a heap of lawsuits UMG had launched against MySpace, Grouper (Crackle), and Bolt (since deadpooled).
Veoh is partly financed by Time Warner and Michael Eisner’s Tornante Co.
Update: Veoh CEO Steve Mitgang has delivered an official response:
“UMG’s action is not surprising and reflects their limited understanding of Veoh and of the online video space as a whole. Veoh is recognized by many media companies as a DMCA-compliant company and is committed to respecting the rights of content owners. In fact, we’re currently working cooperatively with major media companies and the MPAA to develop standards for copyright protection. It’s unfortunate that UMG prefers to continue their pattern of litigation rather than contribute to the important discussions going on within our industry.”
Why are you saying the word “finally”? You have to understand that with big corporations like companies the size of Universal “these things take time”.
I’m assuming that they had to get everything in line so they could build a case against them?
I agree. They want to have everything prepared so they have overwhelming amounts of evidence to show the court. If they start a case too early, and can’t prove their point, they lose out later.
Finally, because it’s been expected for a while.
big corporations duking it out in court (yawn), another day – another lawsuit…what’s new?
And finally because these big companies move so slow, they’ll be starting suits against defendants that aren’t in business anymore or are not relevant. Empty victory in that case, it would seem.
Anyone know where the disposition of the original Tur vs. YouTube lawsuit case is. That seems to have been the first one. Has there been a ruling? Settled out of court?
Granted, Veoh – at least in the past – has been pretty blantant about disregard for copyright. I’ve seen full length feature films there in the past (Little Miss Sunshine). I did chuckle when I saw read that Veoh sued Universal – showed a little swagger at least.
I wish I was a copyright lawyer. That aston martin vanquish is looking really nice right about now.
why can’t these startups make it a point to secure the rights before they dump a ton of time into making something that these media giants can squash with enough force.
Starting a business using someone elses copyrigted material is a bad idea.
I can’t believe the ceo! veoh tv is the most obviously infringing piece of software on the web. and it’s also really lame, i can’t believe it has any real users. give up veoh, you’re just another youtube also-ran.
Veoh got some good stuff. I hate to see it get sued.
Universal is right!
They are the bigger company.
http://fakestev...er.blogspot.com
Back a mere decade, I would’ve never thought content providers would be fighting so viciously to NOT get freely distributed!
In all fairness, the independent videos are often much more entertaining than whatever comes from “the majors” and this mere fact might be what’s really hitting all their buttons ; )
The whole “rights” issue is really a non-issue driven forward by square headed lawyers who make tons of money fighting a tsunami of modernity.
Yeah, it was inevitable.
I love Veoh and Mitgang’s response is beautiful.
Well the media industry is at it again, and this time Universal sues Veoh, which is really no surprise.
hang on to old models as long as you can and milk it for everything you can … but the world is changing … and just like evolution, adapt or perish.
Thats one hell of a response, good job Veoh