The National Music Publishers Association has joined a copyright infringement lawsuit against Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG) YouTube. According to (subscription required) The Wall Street Journal, the organizations own copyrights to the lyrics and melodies for songs.
Google claims that it is about to put new software into place that it says will help identify infringing material. It has also made the case that it is individual user and not YouTube who are responsible for posting video and songs. Under this theory, as long as YouTube takes down material identified as being owned by entertainment companies, it has discharged it obligation.
The problem with Google's approach is that, if it is wrong, the company could face large monetary judgments and a significant set-back to its some of it users who post infringing material. That is if entertainment company content is why consumers go to YouTube. Most of the content at the site is still user created.
Douglas A. McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.
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