Here it Begins, The Internet attacked from Both Sides … Private lawsuits and FBI

It was only a matter of time following the landmark purchase of YouTube by Google that lawsuits would follow in the video sharing on-line world. The first is Universal suing Grouper.com.

In separate lawsuits, Universal alleged that Grouper.com – recently acquired by Sony Pictures Entertainment – and Bolt.com had built up traffic by encouraging users to share music videos from its artists without their permission. In one incident, it claimed a video for the Mariah Carey song “Shake it Off” was viewed more than 50,000 times on Grouper without the company’s permission.

Universal publicly threatened to sue YouTube before reversing and signing a partnership with the company last week to distribute its music videos. (The Financial Times)

Universal Music sues video sites

The world’s biggest record company, Universal Music, is suing two video-sharing websites in the US.

The firm, whose artists include U2 and Mariah Carey, accuses both Grouper and Bolt of allowing “mass infringement” of copyright by letting users swap videos. (BBC)

On the other side of internet privacy it would appear that the FBI Director called on Internet service providers to record their customers’ online activities.

FBI Director Robert Mueller on Tuesday called on Internet service providers to record their customers’ online activities, a move that anticipates a fierce debate over privacy and law enforcement in Washington next year.

“Terrorists coordinate their plans cloaked in the anonymity of the Internet, as do violent sexual predators prowling chat rooms,” Mueller said in a speech at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Boston.

“All too often, we find that before we can catch these offenders, Internet service providers have unwittingly deleted the very records that would help us identify these offenders and protect future victims,” Mueller said. “We must find a balance between the legitimate need for privacy and law enforcement’s clear need for access.” (C/Net News)