Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple, iPhone
Those YouTube videos on your iPhone might be illegal
Content creators have a right to make money from what they produce, I don't think anyone argues that. As a content creator myself I feel for those that have their copyrights infringed, though I think that only happens because the big media companies are afraid of digital distribution and treat their customers like criminals.Anyway, the latest copyright infringement story has just popped up over on NewsBlog. It would seem that some of Bob Tur's work has been illegally uploaded to YouTube, and he isn't happy. He has filed suit against YouTube already, but now he thinks he has a case against Apple. Why? Because the YouTube app on the iPhone plays his copyrighted material (please, no one tell him about the AppleTV, Macs, or PCs, all of which can play YouTube content too. He might start going after everyone with a net connection and access to YouTube).
Bob is 'disappointed' in Apple for creating an app capable of distributing copyrighted material and thinks he can name Apple as a secondary copyright infringer. Now, I'm no lawyer but this is just dumb (that's the technical term, I think). It is like suing Sony because their TVs and DVD players allow me to watch a bootleged DVD (not that I would do that). Here's hoping Mr. Tur comes to his senses and doesn't clog an already overworked legal system with ridiculous cases.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
m2 said 8:09PM on 7-17-2007
somebody wants john gruber's jackass-of-the-week stamp
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ChrisM70 said 8:19PM on 7-17-2007
It would be like suing L'eggs Panty hose because a guy was wearing a pair over his head when he committed a robbery.
Stupid.
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artifex said 8:20PM on 7-17-2007
VCRs (ancient proto-PVRs using tape and analog recording) can play back movies from tapes that are illegally copied, too. Ask the MPAA how the Betamax case went.
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Andrew Brown said 9:22PM on 7-17-2007
My understanding is that YouTube videos are re-encoded so that they are viewable through Apple TV and iPhone. I'm no lawyer, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that such re-encoding could be considered as a separate instance of copyright infringement.
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G said 9:32PM on 7-17-2007
The iPhone YouTube app is not capable of trafficing "bootlegged content" as he tries to assert. It is a search tool and a player. If he has a copyright beef with a video on YouTube, he needs to pursue that. Many the videos I try to watch have often been removed per request of the copyright holder, so I know the process works. Bob Tur thinks he smells deep pockets. I hope they can counter-sue for expenses at the very least when this yokel is beat down.
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Oroak said 9:53PM on 7-17-2007
Bub Tur's case gets a big "LOL" from me!
Anyway, seems like someone just wants a get-rich-quick scheme... He really has some crazy logic.
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Macroy said 9:59PM on 7-17-2007
My glasses enable me to view copyrighted content. Should I e-mail the URL of the manufacturer's site to this guy?
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Henry said 12:06AM on 7-18-2007
Haha Macroy, made me LOL.
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Matt said 12:52AM on 7-18-2007
My eyes allow me to view copyrighted material, how about he sues my parents?
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Tom said 9:00PM on 8-05-2007
ARGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I have to hear about one more pathetic person trying to get publicity from the iPhone hype my head is going to explode.
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Cowicide said 1:27AM on 7-18-2007
I was in the bathroom when I looked at his videos. Will he sue my toilet?
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Bill Mac said 1:28AM on 7-18-2007
...and when your head explodes, you should probably sue Apple! :)
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David said 1:30AM on 7-18-2007
Hey Tom! I'm going to eat an iPhone live on the World Wide Web for publicity.
Are you hearing me Tom?!
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Bart said 5:37AM on 7-18-2007
"What if someone xeroxed your book and was handing it out for free on street corners?"
I replied, "Well, it seems to be working for Jesus."
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andrew said 4:23AM on 7-18-2007
Surely if Apple are culpable in this case, the guy can sue Microsoft (for IE), Mozilla, Opera, etc... Hell, why not sue Tim Berners-Lee for inventing the internet in the first place - surely that's the largest part of the copyright infringement being used?
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ecobore said 4:43AM on 7-18-2007
ah yes, more specious American lawsuits. Ah, not making enough dough - great idea, SUE SOMEBODY! Burnt yourself through drinking hot coffee too fast - HEY SUE!!! JEEZ!!! Why don't these guys just go out and get a job instead of wasting everybody's time and money. What a lot of w*nk!
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Jason said 5:15AM on 7-18-2007
Tim Berners-Lee didn't invent the internet, he invented the WWW, big difference
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andy said 6:36AM on 7-18-2007
Why is this an even a story? What next "accurate time keeping on iPhone makes it possible for ships to navigate at sea" or "illegal music files found on iPhone"?
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Jeff said 12:27PM on 7-18-2007
Hey Bob Tur, I have no idea who you are. But I bet I would learn about you and your work on YouTube faster than any other means.
Some people don't have a clue.
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stainboy said 9:09AM on 7-18-2007
SUE TEH INTERNETS!!!!!!!!
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