According To Reuters YouTube the about to be billionaries may inherit a whole new class of complainers lining up for a check. Google stands to inherit court challenges from independent film makers, garage bands, television studios and others who claim their copyright infringers.Â
Legal experts and industry veterans said these artists and companies could look to YouTube’s new deep-pocket backer for payment, either in business deals or courtroom battles.
“The next lawsuits will come from the independent labels or any label who’s not licensing to YouTube, which is everyone but the four majors,” said
Christian Castle, a music industry attorney. “Lawsuits can come from anywhere in the world.” Los Angeles-based Castle said YouTube’s lax policy that helped it win viewers will have long-term repercussions.
“The young entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley tonight are trying to figure out how to build a better YouTube and they are not thinking about getting the licenses for content owners,” Castle said. “That’s the real damage that Google has done by rewarding these people.”