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. 

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.”

Amity Lane, the new project featuring founding Trust Company guitarist/vocalist Kevin Palmer and bassist Josh Moates, have signed a deal with Corporate Punishment Records. The band’s debut album will be released on October 31st through Corporate Punishment in conjunction with its newly formed sister label Then Music.  Trust Company released their debut Geffen LP, “The Lonely Position of Neutral”, in 2002, marking the start of a whirlwind year for the Alabama quintet, as the Don Gilmore-produced (Linkin Park, Pearl Jam) LP debuted at #11 on the Billboard charts, selling over 78,000 copies in its first week (it was eventually certified gold) and spawned the hit singles “Downfall” and “Running from Me”.  Amity Lane is the name of the street Kevin grew up on and the band decided a new identity was needed. Check out the tracks Million Miles Away and Drown You Out.

For more information contact Thom Hazaert c/o Corporate Punishment.

Google snapped up YouTube Inc. for $1.65 billion Monday in deal that catapults the Internet search leader to a leading role in the online video revolution.

The price makes YouTube, a still-unprofitable startup, by far the most expensive purchase made by Google during its eight-year history.

“We are natural partners to offer a compelling media entertainment service to users, content owners and advertisers,” said Eric Schmidt, Google’s chief executive officer.

 

• U2 has left the Island Records. Sources say U2 and Island Records were suffering from a detoriating relationship.

Insiders claimed yesterday that the band’s members, led by Bono, became fed up with the Island Records’ senior management’s “hands-off” approach towards them, despite their having generated hundreds of millions of pounds for the label.

Friends said yesterday that the final straw came during a recent recording session in London. While Bono and the band worked on new tracks to add to their latest Best of compilation, no one from Island Records dropped by to meet them. One observer claimed this “put their noses out of joint” and did nothing to help the deteriorating relationship. Their closest ally at the label, the former general manager Jason Iley, was appointed managing director of Mercury Records last year, and the band have now followed him there.

• Universal Music Group strikes a deal with YouTube.
  UMG and its artists will be compensated as well as for the unique, user-created content that incorporates UMG music. YouTube has also agreed to a use its technology to filter out unauthorized content

The NYC punk venue CBGB’s that could barely pack in 300 people will be closing this Sunday after operating for 33 years. CBGB’s assisted in launching the careers of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Blondie, the Talking Heads and the Ramones. The ’80s hardcore band Bad Brains and the ’70s punks the Dictators are both scheduled for the final week (Oct 13-14th). Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Chris Stein are scheduled to appear.