Aren't a lot of people supposedly compelled to watch the shows and/or channels that these clips originate from? If that is the case, then the clips are actually helping Viacom. Mabey a quick $1 billion is more than they would make from all the new viewers...

I think we should all be locked up for being filthy pirates :)

Google shouldn't be liable.
Viacom should go after each individual that uploaded the videos illegally.

That's a lot of work for Viacom, but too bad. Google shouldn't have to hire a massive team of thousands to go through every video uploaded on a daily basis, just to see if any particular company's copyrights are being violated.

Ridiculous demands. Not to mention this is free advertising for Viacom, so it shows how out of touch with reality their corporation is.

We need to organize a boycott of Viacom - starting with the TV networks (CBS, MTV and Comedy Central). We weren't active enough in initially attacking the RIAA for their behaviour, and we can't let Viacom get away with it, either.

Might be cheaper (and better?) if google just bought viacom and the other TV companies.

I think everyone but Google knew YouTube was a huge disaster waiting to explode.

I remember when Mark Cuban said if Google bought YouTube they'd start getting sued for billions of dollars. Looks like no one can resist the siren's call of litigation money.

Indeed...

I don't think a company as sucessful as Google would stick it's neck out without due cause. Google had to have known it would get sued if it picked up YouTube. If it were any other company they would've just kept their own content system, but they picked up a already tainted one just looking for somone to bite.

I seriously wonder if Google intends on taking on the small companies, then the RIAA, and eventually challenge the DMCA. There would've been no other reason to pick up YouTube, especially under those circumstances. I know thats extremely optmistic, but why else would an extremely sucessful company, like Google, openly try to hang itself?

Google can't be that stupid.

Lol at media companies acting like babies because they can't own all entertainment ever.

I guess this sort of behavior is to be expected of these days from big companies, always seeking out more $$$$$$$. However, this strikes me as a bit dumb, because I kinda saw those clips on youtube as some of the best possible advertising Viaccom could ask for. I didn't know the Colbert Report was as good as it is until I saw the vids. You add this to the fact that at present, you really can't find any vids of TDS or TCR on youtube anymore, and I'm really surpised that Google's being sued.