“YouRube” Gives Attention Without Compensation

Says John Paczkowski of “Good Morning Silicon Valley::

YouTube says it’s protected from such legal attacks under a federal law that shields online services from liability for copyright violations its customers may commit, that argument loses potency if the service profits from infringements. One could argue that YouTube is doing just that by running ads in its search results, and someone surely will. The courts will almost certainly end up deciding that one.

John asks… “How long will the people who create the videos that are YouTube’s lifeblood be satisfied with attention as compensation? How long before more clip makers catch on and begin taking their content to an outfit that will pay them for it?”

I’m not saying I have the exact date, but it’s going to be in 2006 for most people. Enter the pool, John. Enter the pool.