14 DAY TRIAL // Following the recent reports that YouTube is offering full-length pirated movies, the parent company Google decided to take attitude and removed Sicko, one of the videos included in the complaints. The entire movie was divided in 14 parts because the online video sharing service allows only up to 10 minutes or 100 mb per clip. However, the removal might cause even more problems as the producer of the film is prepared to start an investigation to find the uploaders of the clips. As you might have heard, the movie was uploaded on YouTube before the official release date in the US.
"Every DVD screener that comes from the Weinstein Co. is watermarked and traceable. We are actively investigating those who illegally uploaded Sicko to the internet, and we will take the strongest possible legal action. The company declined comment about whether it will seek legal action against YouTube for allowing the uploads," Weinstein Co. general counsel Peter Hurwitz said.
Weinstein Co. is currently working to distribute the film and is willing to do anything to protect one of the most promoted movies.
This is not the first time when the clips uploaded on the online video sharing service might cause important trouble for the registered members who published the movies. In the past, Fox required private information from YouTube to identify a user who uploaded pirated copies of its movies even before the official release date in the US. After an impressive investigation made by Fox and the authorities, the user - nicknamed ECOtotal - was arrested and might be sent to prison for uploading pirated movies.
In this case, most of the elements are very similar but it's not quite clear if the Sicko producers want to go that far and investigate the users. However, YouTube tends to become a dangerous place for the uploaders because any sign of copyright infringement might send them to the judge.