Google sent users' information to Fox

Feb 15, 2007 10:18 GMT  ·  By

YouTube is currently the leader of the online video sharing services, allowing you to upload, share and comment videos with other members of the community. The video solution was acquired by YouTube in October 2006 for $1.6 billion, the company trying to pay off the investment with new exciting features meant to attract more users to the product. Since the Google acquisition, YouTube was one of the most popular services on the Internet because it caused several federal problems for the search giant. Google was often sued for copyright infringement, being accused for publishing videos without authorization.

Recently, Viacom, the provider of many TV channels such as MTV, demanded YouTube to remove almost 100.000 clips from the page because the company considers Google is receiving praises for the content provided by other publishers. Some time ago, the search giant was also sued for publishing videos with Daniela Cicareli, Ronaldo's ex-wife who filed a complaint against Google after the users posted movies without her approval.

Another interesting problem was presented a few weeks ago by Fox Television that sustained YouTube users uploaded pirated videos of its 24 and The Simpsons before they were released in the US for the first time. It seems like the movies were published by a user nicknamed ECOTtotal who uploaded 12 episodes from The Simpsons series. Because the television is now trying to find more information about this illegal action, the company sent a subpoena to Google to require more details about the identity of the uploader.

"In an e-mail to internetnews.com, a 20th Century Fox Television spokesperson said that Google and Live Digital complied with subpoenas issued by the U.S. District Court in Northern California and disclosed to Fox the identities of two individuals who illegally uploaded entire episodes of "24" prior to its broadcast and DVD release. "We intend to use the information provided to pursue all available legal remedies against those who infringed our copyrights," 20th Century Fox Television Vice President of Media Relations Chris Alexander told internetnews.com," the publication reported.