YouTube still protected under DMCA, says Judge, Viacom sent packing

YouTube trends may have changed over the last few years, but the company's legal standing hasn't: according to a federal judge, the DMCA still protects the streaming site from Viacom's copyright claims. The ruling responds to Viacom's appeal of a 2010 case, which stated that YouTube couldn't be held responsible for copyright infringing content uploaded by its users. Viacom sought to revise the ruling, insisting that YouTube was "willfully blind" of the activity. That may be the case, but Judge Louis Stanton sees things differently. "Knowledge of the prevalence of infringing activity, and welcoming it, does not itself forfeit the safe harbor. To forfeit that, the provider must influence or participate in the infringement." Since YouTube doesn't pre-screen content before throwing it live, and because it always takes down infringing content upon request, it simply isn't liable.

Viacom says that the decision "ignores the opinions of the higher courts and completely disregards the rights of creative artists," and promises to appeal the decision again with hopes of taking the case to a jury. Google, on the other hand, is playing it cool. "The court correctly rejected Viacom's lawsuit against YouTube, reaffirming that Congress got it right when it comes to copyright on the Internet. This is a win not just for YouTube, but for people everywhere who depend on the Internet to exchange ideas and information." Looking for a side to pick? Check out the court's full decision after the break.

Viacom v. YouTube

Source: AllThingsD, YouTube

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By: Unknown On 1:38 PM

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Ask Engadget: what's the best way to arrange a protected AirPlay setup?

By Daniel Cooper posted Nov 3rd 2012 10:57PM
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Wes, who needs to ensure that Delta Tau Chi don't start interfering with his band practice sessions. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I'm a university band director, and I need a WiFi stereo receiver for our rehearsal space. The problem is, that it would have to join the same network that the students and faculty all share. I want to be able to Airplay music and related apps (like a metronome) through the setup, but I'm worried that any student can connect and mess with it. I can't seem to find a receiver that requires a separate password to connect to it, so I could really use some help! Thanks, Wes"

Wes, we'll help you on one condition: the next time you're directing a half-time show, the band has to stand in the shape of the Engadget logo. Deal? Good.
It's very easy to set an AirPlay access code onto an Apple TV. That way, if anyone wants to start pushing tunes (or apps) to your sound system, you have to enter a four-digit code of your choosing.You can also control permissions on other AirPlay devices like the Sony STR-DN1030, but there's a limit of 20 devices, and it's a little bit fiddly.
Of course, this wouldn't be Ask Engadget without some audience participation, so, dear audience, participate! Share your knowledge, tell us tales and spread some love this weekend -- but only if said love is related to the world of AirPlay passwords.

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By: Dilusha On 2:07 PM

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