UMG Chairman Accuses MySpace and YouTube of Violating Copyrights

Posted on September 16, 2006

Universal Music Group Chairman Doug Morris has accused YouTube and MySpace of violating music video copyrights. Morris said at a a Merrill Lynch Media and Entertainment Conference, "We believe these new businesses are copyright infringers and owe us tens of millions of dollars. How we deal with these companies will be revealed shortly."

YouTube has not commented on Morris's remarks. Ars Technica also has an article about Universal Music Group's targeting of MySpace and YouTube. Ars Technical also reported recently that YouTube co-founder Steve Chen has said, "What we really want to do is in six to 12 months, maybe 18 months, to have every music video ever created up on YouTube." The article says Chen is working with music labels.

There has already been at least one music deal as Paris Hilton recently launched a channel on YouTube. YouTube is reportedly working with the music companies to add screening software that would keep unauthorized videos off the video sharing website.

A YouTube search for Mariah Carey shows over 3,000 results and a Black Eyed Peas search also shows over 3,000 results. These results include music videos, concert videos and tv clips. There are also spoofs and lip syncing from fans. While the music companies want to be paid for each music video view there are also many up and coming artists who want their videos to be seen as much as possible so they can get noticed.