Federal judge dismisses Viacom copyright suit against YouTube News
Federal judge dismisses Viacom copyright suit against YouTube
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[JURIST] A judge for the US District Court for the Southern District of New York [official website] on Thursday dissmissed [opinion] a copyright infringement lawsuit by Viacom against Google’s YouTube [corporate websites]. Viacom, which owns Comedy Central, MTV and VH1, was seeking $1 billion in damages as well as an injunction against YouTube for clips that were posted on the website without authorization. The court said YouTube, a popular online video site, was protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) [text, PDF] “safe harbor” provision. Viacom previously brought a similar suit [JURIST report] against YouTube in 2007, but was unsuccessful.

Google is also facing both domestic and international criticism over its privacy policy. In February, EU data protection agencies announced plans [JURIST report] to take action against Google and investigate the company’s failure to comply with EU privacy laws. Previously, 27 EU states warned [JURIST report] Google that its confidentiality rules do not comply with EU law and gave the company four months to implement recommendations from the EU data protection agencies. In December an Italian court overturned a conviction of Google executives [JURIST report] for privacy violations from allowing a bullying video to be posted on its site. Further, in November, Google was fined $22.5 million [JURIST report] for alleged privacy misrepresentations concerning Apple’s Safari Internet browser.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.