Posted by Bill on 12/07/06 16:07

I hadn't read this when I posted my question above. I think this is a
very good point.

PTravel wrote:

>
> I'm not sure, however, that I'd change the liability exemption for ISPs. No
> one here would argue that libraries should not be subject to infringement
> liability for distributing a book that might subsequently turn out to be
> infringing of copyright. Websites like Youtube perform a similar function.
> If the onus for infringement policing fell on Youtube, it would go out of
> business -- it is very, very difficult (and expensive) to verify the
> copyright province of a particular piece of expression. Yes, for some
> expression it is obvious -- pirated outtakes from the as-yet-unreleased
> Harry Potter movie would probably be something that should alert any
> reasonable person. However, if I upload my travel videos, how would Youtube
> know whether I own the copyright, or whether they were illegally copied from
> another source? I think libraries, and their on-line equivalents, are Good
> Things and, not surprisingly, there are statutory exemptions for libraries
> with respect to all kinds of activities that might otherwise be infringing
> of intellectual property rights.
>

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