Why hasn't YouTube gotten sued or shutdown yet?

**SteveFlack** · 02-13-2006, 09:53 PM

Ever since it was discovered by the internet world at large the day after "Lazy Sunday" debuted, I've been awestruck by YouTube. It seems that just about everything I've ever wanted to see has been uploaded to it.

Now, obviously, they have no rights to distribute or show any of this stuff. And, obviously, someone out there mustn't enjoy their intellectual property being shown for free on someone else's website. So, has anyone heard anything?

-Steve!

**nrrdgrrl** · 02-13-2006, 09:59 PM

Bad PR maybe? SNL started out sort of underground, and subversive, but not enough to offend the majority of the public. To turn around and sue a company for being underground would be hypocritical and bring a ton of bad press. It would also push away their younger audience (14-25). These are the majority of the people going to youtube, and the section of the audience that the advertisers are looking for. Pushing them away means pissing off the advertisers, and the show ultimately losing money.

It would be like Metallica suing Napster. Oh wait.....

**BWC Boston** · 02-13-2006, 10:11 PM

I could be wrong, but I don't think YouTube allows users to download from it for keepsies, right? There may be some technical loophole there.

If nothing else, something like that SNL clip could be construed as an SNL promo that users can watch at their request. Why stop that?

**Ziolko** · 02-13-2006, 10:53 PM

Ssssshhhh! Don't say that so loud! There's still a crapload of pro-wrestling stuff I want to watch there!

**Bill?** · 02-14-2006, 02:38 AM

you cant sue the internet!

**EasyE726** · 02-14-2006, 04:38 AM

But you can blow it up.

**Jim T.** · 02-14-2006, 05:04 AM

I think it's just a matter of time - as you noted, it wasn't widely known until Lazy Sunday. Now that it is, I think you'll see content owners (if they haven't already) start issuing their cease & desist letters. NBC ended up getting a lot of free promotion of their show, so I doubt you'll see any action there.