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.

[via Hello_World]

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Source: http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9745198-7.html?part=rss&sub…

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Analysis / Opinion Apple iPhone

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...

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Jon

"It is like suing Sony because their TVs and DVD players allow me to watch a bootleged DVD"

That's been tried and the Supreme Court had to address the case and bail Sony out (Sony lost in th lower courts). See Sony v. Universal, 464 U.S. 417 (1984), i.e., the Sony Betamax case.

July 18 2007 at 2:26 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Tim Maddog

My brain is capable of illegal thoughts. (I'm thinking right now, "How many people didn't know who Bob Tur was until they read this BS?")

COMING SOON: Mandatory lobotomies for all!

July 18 2007 at 12:19 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

stainboy

SUE TEH INTERNETS!!!!!!!!

July 18 2007 at 9:08 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jeff

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.

July 18 2007 at 8:46 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

andy

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"?

July 18 2007 at 6:35 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jason

Tim Berners-Lee didn't invent the internet, he invented the WWW, big difference

July 18 2007 at 5:15 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

ecobore

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!

July 18 2007 at 4:43 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

andrew

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?

July 18 2007 at 4:21 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bart

"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."

July 18 2007 at 1:47 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Dave

Hey Tom! I'm going to eat an iPhone live on the World Wide Web for publicity.

Are you hearing me Tom?!

July 18 2007 at 1:30 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply