Music Publishers Join Litigation Against YouTube

24th August 2007

The National Musical Publishers Association ("NMPA"), the largest US music publishing trade association, has recently joined litigation against the Google-owned website YouTube stating that songwriters are not being properly compensated when their music features on the site.

Viacom (the media giant behind MTV, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central) started the copyright infringement litigation when they filed suit in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on 4 May for a reported $1 billion. They demanded the removal of thousands of video clips for which they were the rights holder and which were uploaded without their permission by YouTube users. Since that date other parties have joined the action including the English Premier League, the Rugby Football League, the Finnish Football League Association and author Daniel Quinn.

Google's position is that they abide by the law in responding promptly and removing unauthorised material once complaints are received. They will seek to rely on the provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act which seeks to protect copyright holders whilst also protecting internet based communications and content.

Chief Executive of the NMPA David Israelite said they were "very concerned about YouTube's approach to copyright". Speaking to BBC News he added that the NMPA were joining the litigation "to protect the interests of music publishers and songwriters, whose creative works are being used without permission or compensation by YouTube".

The claims have been combined for trial purposes into one case which will be heard by US District Judge Louis L. Stanton in New York.