Viacom vs. Google

Well I can’t say I am overly surprised at this given the recent DMCA actions. It is of course a very scary move that sets a precedent no one particularly wants set.

“

Google will have to turn over every record of every video watched by YouTube users, including users’ names and IP addresses, to Viacom, which is suing Google for allowing clips of its copyright videos to appear on YouTube, a judge ruled Wednesday.

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This should be considered a warning to any web startups considering storing user and usage data. How will your users feel if you are ordered to turn over your records of their actions?

It does however raise a much more important question… why would you want to keep storing that data?