The Big 4 record label EMI has sued 12 video sites including the social-networking site Hi5 and the video advertising start-up VideoEgg, claiming copyright infringement on hundreds of EMI’s music videos.
The label wants $150,000 USD for each song infringed as well as lawyer fees. EMI also wants all the sites shut down for good.
“Defendant VideoEgg purports to offer technology and services that allow users, through websites operated by VideoEgg’s ‘partners’ to upload digital videos to VideoEgg servers, view those videos, and then distribute them virally and for free over the Internet…Among the videos copied, publically performed, and distributed by VideoEgg, Hi5, and/or their users are videos containing Plaintiffs’s sound recordings and musical compositions,” reads the complaint.
The lawsuit did not add much about the 10 other sites.
Sources have said that Hi5 and EMI have been trying to work out a content deal for over a year but efforts have fallen through.
“We are disappointed that EMI is pursuing legal action when the law provided clear means to address their concerns,” VideoEgg said in a statement. “We have always complied with the copyright laws and are entitled to safe harbor under the DMCA from any claims brought by EMI.” VideoEgg also says it never once received a takedown notice from EMI and would have taken down the videos had they received one.
Result for: download youtube video
After receiving tons of complaints, Telia Sonera has changed its tune and will offer upcoming Apple iPhone 3G owners the option for an unlimited data plan. Users will also be able to choose between its existing voice plans.
Last week Telia released details on the upcoming iPhone 3G launch saying users would only be allowed to purchase data plans offering 100, 250, or 1000 minutes, SMS, and data on plans that cost as much as 859 SEK per month. Telia was “flooded” with complaints and has now decided to offer an unlimited plan. There was no word on the price however.
In Canada, a similar situation has been brewing, where Rogers has hit users with very expensive data plans that offer little SMS and daytime minutes. This is also on top of a mandatory 3-year contract. According to Ruinediphone.com, there is a petition going around to stop Rogers’ exploitive data rates and has already reached 31,000 signatures.
Result for: download youtube video
Roku has announced that it will be bringing more streaming content providers to its new set-top box soon, allowing users to have more content than just movies and TV from Netflix.
The Roku box has been very popular since its release, even though only 10 percent of Netflix’s content is available for streaming and the quality is just under DVD. When the support for other content providers hits, Roku will have the first box to offer content from more than one source. Currently AppleTV and Vudu still offer content from a single source.
Netflix continues to add content daily to its streaming service and over time hopes to have most of its catalog available. If Roku owners can be patient, then the cheap feature heavy set-top box can be a very useful piece of technology in the future.
