Slashdot reports that Vimeo, probably the most popular video sharing site used by professional photographers, is being sued. The suit claims Vimeo is knowingly violating audio copyrights by hosting videos that use protected songs within them. A fact that can be backed up they say as some of the videos in question where actually created by Vimeo themselves.
The “Lip Dub” as shown above is an example, they say, of how Vimeo…
induces and encourages its users to upload…audiovisual works
Thus encouraging people to violate copyrights. Because, you know people can’t be held liable for their own actions. Vimeo is supposed to babysit all it’s users. (note the hint of sarcasm) You can read the entire filing as a PDF over at newteevee. It is an interesting claim for sure. But the real question is how many photographers are deleting content like mad over at Vimeo in hopes that nobody noticed they used a song illegally? I guess they could always use the defense “Vimeo made me do it!”…
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5 Comments at "Vimeo Sued for Copyright Infringement"
Thanks to Natalie Merchant, I do!!!!
Scott
There goes all of the free publicity for those artists who made the songs in question. As a musician (yes, I wear that hat too), I’d be more than happy to have my name and song/album title accompanying a slideshow that 100s of family members are bound to view. If they like it, they might just buy it.
Besides, how many people actually know how to or would want to extract low-quality audio from one of these flash slideshows?
“Copyright Infringement” it’s really nothing at all in the large scheme of things now is it? Is not everything in the Public Domain? In a Socialist or Communist State everything belongs to everyone and why not, makes things so much simpler right?
Screw that.
Give me personal responsibility and let me fall flat on my face for knowingly making a poor choice in life. Just like using copyrighted material knowing full well that I may get popped for it some day. If you are under 18 and having fun making personal videos and such then I can let that go. Music being used professionally had better be paid for, just like images and words. I own the complete Stock 20 library and a selection of Triple Scoop music offerings so that I do not infringe on a musicians rights. I have seen/heard countless professional photographers using major recording artists works for professional use and I know damn well they never got authorization or paid any price for the pleasure of using the audio track. If a photographer complains about someone using their images without permission and they have ever used anyone else’s material without authorization then they know what is what, right?
Maybe not.
I agree with Dan. Whenever I find a song I like on any photographers website I always buy it off of iTunes. Once again the record companies are shooting themselves in the foot.
I have noticed that if you try and embed a Vimeo Video on FaceBook that contains copyrighted music, FaceBook wont allow it.
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