Google YouTube Sued for a Cool Billion

Filed in archive Companies , Legal on March 13, 2007

Viacom has sued Google YouTube for $1 billion for copyright infringement. The suit included an injunction to prevent YouTube from continued copyright infractions. Google's $1.6 billion purchase of YouTube assumed total payments of several hundred million dollars to entertainment companies. That figure may now be on the low side.

Viacom claimed damages based on 160,000 unauthorized video files being download 1.5 billion times.

The lawsuit stands in contrast to Viacom's partnership with P2P broadcaster Joost, as well as deals that the BBC, Sundance, and other entertainment companies have signed with Viacom to share ad revenues.