Comments on: The problem is one of sharing http://www.thepomoblog.com/archive/the-problem-is-one-of-sharing/ Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:08:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Phoneranger http://www.thepomoblog.com/archive/the-problem-is-one-of-sharing/#comment-8056 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:06:58 +0000 http://www.thepomoblog.com/archive/the-problem-is-one-of-sharing/#comment-8056 I think Sumner would be perfectly happy to make deals with 10 mini-YouTubes. But if VIA, Diller, NBCU et al have to make a deal with one big dog, they'll be knocked down a few notches on the food chain. That's why this is a deathmatch. I think Sumner would be perfectly happy to make deals with 10 mini-YouTubes. But if VIA, Diller, NBCU et al have to make a deal with one big dog, they’ll be knocked down a few notches on the food chain. That’s why this is a deathmatch.

]]> by: Holly http://www.thepomoblog.com/archive/the-problem-is-one-of-sharing/#comment-8050 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 20:29:24 +0000 http://www.thepomoblog.com/archive/the-problem-is-one-of-sharing/#comment-8050 Thanks for explaining, Ike. Thanks for explaining, Ike.

]]> by: Ike http://www.thepomoblog.com/archive/the-problem-is-one-of-sharing/#comment-8048 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 20:25:28 +0000 http://www.thepomoblog.com/archive/the-problem-is-one-of-sharing/#comment-8048 Holly -- The difference Redstone would offer is that you saw the product in someone else's window, then bought it in an authorized store. Redstone's Viacom clips only make him money when people watch them live, where they are embedded along with the ads that pay his bills. If you have access to all of that content without tripping across his ads, you are costing him money. Since Viacom is not offering those clips for individual retail sale, you can't buy them from Redstone and thus compensate the original artists. (Assuming for one moment that artists make as much as producers, agents, and entertainment lawyers.) What Sumner really wants is a licensing for video clips, something like ASCAP or BMI. Those deals allow the radio stations to play the music you listen to "for free." At least, that's what he would say if he was as clear and concise... Holly — The difference Redstone would offer is that you saw the product in someone else’s window, then bought it in an authorized store.

Redstone’s Viacom clips only make him money when people watch them live, where they are embedded along with the ads that pay his bills. If you have access to all of that content without tripping across his ads, you are costing him money.

Since Viacom is not offering those clips for individual retail sale, you can’t buy them from Redstone and thus compensate the original artists. (Assuming for one moment that artists make as much as producers, agents, and entertainment lawyers.) What Sumner really wants is a licensing for video clips, something like ASCAP or BMI. Those deals allow the radio stations to play the music you listen to “for free.”

At least, that’s what he would say if he was as clear and concise…

]]> by: Holly http://www.thepomoblog.com/archive/the-problem-is-one-of-sharing/#comment-8042 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:13:30 +0000 http://www.thepomoblog.com/archive/the-problem-is-one-of-sharing/#comment-8042 I still don't understand why people like Mr. Redstone think that YouTube is costing them money. I just checked my iTunes receipts, and I've spent eighty dollars since Halloween on stuff that I first saw on Youtube. I was exposed to it there, but I wanted to have it when and how I wanted it, so I bought it, and now it's in my right hip pocket on my beautiful little iPod. Either I am a completely unique anomaly (not likely), or else Youtube is MAKING "content creators" money. This genuinely baffles me. If there's a flaw in my understanding of the situation, I wish someone would explain it to me. I still don’t understand why people like Mr. Redstone think that YouTube is costing them money. I just checked my iTunes receipts, and I’ve spent eighty dollars since Halloween on stuff that I first saw on Youtube. I was exposed to it there, but I wanted to have it when and how I wanted it, so I bought it, and now it’s in my right hip pocket on my beautiful little iPod. Either I am a completely unique anomaly (not likely), or else Youtube is MAKING “content creators” money.

This genuinely baffles me. If there’s a flaw in my understanding of the situation, I wish someone would explain it to me.

]]> by: Ike http://www.thepomoblog.com/archive/the-problem-is-one-of-sharing/#comment-8040 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 17:19:49 +0000 http://www.thepomoblog.com/archive/the-problem-is-one-of-sharing/#comment-8040 Hey Terry -- this is a lot like the argument that "If guns kill people, then spoons make people fat." Redstone's beef with YouTube is that the site is using Viacom content to drive up their traffic stats. He's right on that point, but he's then asking YouTube to police every user to ensure they don't break the copyright. Let's kill all the spoon-makers. Hey Terry — this is a lot like the argument that “If guns kill people, then spoons make people fat.” Redstone’s beef with YouTube is that the site is using Viacom content to drive up their traffic stats. He’s right on that point, but he’s then asking YouTube to police every user to ensure they don’t break the copyright. Let’s kill all the spoon-makers.

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