"YouTube". It has become a common avenue for people to share videos, be it for a more useful purpose like education or just to while one's time away. Occasionally, YouTube even makes the headlines on certain popular websites such as Slashdot! But, despite its increasing popularity, has anyone given a thought on how ethical YouTube is?
To Viacom and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), YouTube can be seen as an unethical, money hungry corporation that ignores any copyright laws for the sole purpose of generating profits and publicity. Looking at it from the copyright holders' points of view, you may find that Viacom and MPAA are fully justified in targeting YouTube with their accusations. If you depend on the media industry for a living, and obtain profits from the sale of items such as original video CDs, YouTube's existence may only affect you negatively, that is the threatening of your livelihood.
The main reason for their claim is due to the many copyrighted videos found on YouTube. However, according to section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, YouTube is not to be found guilty as it is not to be held responsible for the misuse of its service provided by the users. Furthermore, YouTube relies on the viewers to report any unauthorised material to them, according to its website. Thus, YouTube cannot be said to be entirely unethical in its dealings with copyright issues.
But even though YouTube is not necessarily unethical, it is not particularly justified in its inaction against copyrighted videos as long as they are not reported.
Now, is YouTube's sole purpose to provide entertainment and to earn money? This question is entirely up to one's perception as no clear answer to it has been provided by either of the founders of YouTube, Chad Hurley and Steve Chen. In my opinion, then, it is rather obvious that YouTube IS indeed created to provide entertainment and to earn money. The reason for this is the fact that YouTube was created in the first place. How many corporations out there were actually set up to achieve an aim other than to generate income for its founder? Considering the fact that YouTube was built on the idea that it would be a medium for people to share their videos freely, it's safe to say that it is also made for the purpose of entertainment.
I cannot fully agree with the statement as I disagree that YouTube has no ethics whatsoever, yet I agree with the later part of it, that is, YouTube has been created for the sole purpose of entertainment and money. Thus, I am unable to make a distinct stand as the former and the latter part of the question conflict.
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2 comments:
They care about copyright. They removed "What I've Done" by Linkin Park because of the Warner Bros' copyright infringement.
Sorry. Again, I suppose I wasn't clear enough. I did not say that YouTube does not remove videos that infringe copyrights. What I said was that YouTube did not remove videos that violate copyright laws BUT have not been flagged as inappropriate. Thanks for bringing this up though. It appears I wasn't specific enough..
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