Google Wins Copyright Case

A federal judge has dismissed Viacom’s suit against Google’s You Tube for copyright violations. What does the verdict mean for the future of internet file sharing? Wired takes a look. “The ruling, if it survives, is a boon for internet freedom, especially as it applies to search engines, video-hosting companies, picture-hosting services like Flickr, social-networking sites like Facebook and micro-blogging services such as Twitter. But it will make it all the more difficult for rights holders to protect their works. In short, Wednesday’s decision says internet companies, even if they know they are hosting infringing material, are immune from copyright liability if they promptly remove works at a rights-holder’s request — under what is known as a takedown notice.”