Can't catch the Consumer?

Every since YouTube and other video hosting websites were introduced, they’ve always had the problem of copyrighted material being uploaded to the site from numerous users. It makes sense that companies should worry about their content being put out for free for everyone, but should they be worrying about ways to catch the people who upload the content?

Recently, companies such as Audible Magic, have been developing programs that can identify copyrighted material, even if the picture is blurred or if the sound is dubbed. In an article from The New York Times, these programs are described as “new technological weapon[s]”. It seems like they’re taking quite a “violent” approach to trying to weed out illegal material.

MySpace and YouTube are said to be investing in programs such as these “technological weapons”. Paul Kocher, chief executive of Cryptography Research, was quoted saying, “As technology companies mature, they are realizing that the rule of law is better than the anarchy in which they were formed”. Of course it’s always good to follow the law, but he’s only talking about companies. What about the consumers? The constant visitors to YouTube and MySpace?

If seems that digital fingerprinting programs are just another excuse to sue customers, and get even more people in trouble more easily. If it is more likely that you will get caught uploading copyrighted material on YouTube, people will go elsewhere. Alos people will always find ways to get around these digital fingerprinting programs. It is not quite a lost cause yet, but when these programs allow more people to get in trouble, the consumers will revolt.