YouTube acquired by Google
 

So the 'talks' between the two companies have finally pulled through and Google actually bought YouTube.

Considering the amount of copyrighted materials found on YouTube though, many think its just a really stupid decision... Companies and aritsts had little incentive to sue YouTube when it was a young company quicikly burning through its venture capital, but now with Google as its owner, there may be more reason to sue. So I'm just curious as to what y'all think of the acquisition?

I doubt the impact to online video sharing would be big - people would just turn to the many other competing video sharing sources if YouTube is cracked down upon. But that'd just make the acquisition this more pointless...

This is gonna suck. Really bad.

More corporate influence on a highly non-corporate site can only lead to bad things.

I'd like a source for your information.

Considering how rarely I use YouTube, this doesn't really affect me. Though, I do think it may be problematic for the site. Unless Google has a pretty good idea on how to proceed with this, YouTube will spiral down a fire pit.

I heard this from my dad, so it's definitely not just an internet rumor. I'll see if I can find a reliable source, though.

e: Here

I'm really iffy about the whole acquisition.
I keep getting the impression that Google will modify YouTube somehow and ruin it. If any of more of my favourite JRock gets taken down as a result of cracking down or "site improvements" then that would be absolutely terrible.

It was in my newspaper this morning also. I don't really care though, I didn't use it much.

So YouTube is worth close to 2 billion? Wow.

Acro-nym - just do a google and you'll find out :P ie...

The thing about YouTube that bothered me is that you can't download its videos onto the hard-drive. So if they are taken down they are gone, compared to some other video sites where you can just download the ones you really want to keep around. But it was reallly fast and convenient - and updated really frequently. I think its value comes more from its user-base than anything - something that'd decrease if the site gets hammered by legal actions and forced removals of videos.

And I'm also miffed that this 19 month old company is worth this much... >_>

My saved lesbian kissing sessions will go to moot. Damn, fuck, ass. >_>

Anyway, I'm also irked at the situation as Google has now the potential to turn Youtube into something horrible or something less appealing.

Maybe, but just a speculation.

But....Google has Google Video. Why do they need YT as well?
Greedy bastards.

Buying YouTube now would seem to be just as valuabe for their new owner as buying shares of Enron at their peak. There is hardly any potential for significant growth, and the possibility of severe decline in value is always there.

Don't you know? Google is trying to envelope all... Micro$oft is next.

Four reasons:

1. Userbase
2. Advertising
3. Advertising
4. Advertising


And yes, Google is now a huge flashing neon bull's eye with their billions of cash reserves. However it'd be a stupid move to try to sue them into oblivion. If any of the major companies start pursuing litigation, I suspect it'll be to wrestle their way into some kind of lucrative partnership, as the Apple/Creative spat turned out to be.

LMAO, I was thinking the same thing. <_< Actually, there's always vidilife.com, among others...



Aside from the time I watched an entire season of Bleach on YT (I'm impatient, dammit), I mostly use it for the user-created content (lifting videos, guitar videos, etc.). It might be one of google's worst decisions to date, but I'm not terribly concerned.

There are ways to download videos from YouTube and other flash video sites. The easiest I know of is the Firefox extension VideoDownloader. Then all you need to do is download a free flash player or a program to convert the .flv files into other formats.

In fact, I would suggest saving your favorite stuff while you still can. It was inevitable that one company or another would get their hands in YouTube and ruin it, and it looks like that company is going to be Google.

I don't think copyright issues will be that much of a problem for YouTube. Considering that they presumably have some crack lawyers and now also have access to Google's, chances are that they have all sorts of terms agreements and such (that you have to agree to before uploading a video) that get them out of hot water.

Plus, YouTube has been taking down videos upon request from copyright holders for ages now. Very often I'll open a video and it'll say something like "Video removed due to request from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer"; in fact, I saw that while trying to view the Goldeneye: Source video.

I also fail to see why Google owning YouTube is a bad thing. I mean, would you guys prefer that it was Yahoo or Microsoft that bought it? Or any other giant who might be interest in the most popular video site on the internet? Because believe me, we could all do a lot worse considering Google is planning to let YouTube continue to operate as a separate entity and under its original staff.

They can't stop the people!
 

Google isn't as evil as... Microsoft. Maybe they won't ruin YouTube! Isn't that a possibility?

Besides, they must *know* that if they ruin it, another site will replace YouTube and they'll lose.

True. I personally use Video Ook, save it as .flv and use FLV player to play it.

Since when does Google really ruin things anyway? Google consistently puts out great products and tries to move things forward, not to mention notices promising startups and buys them, giving them a chance to be used on a wider scale.

Google FTW.

I don't know, what is going to happen. Personally, I can only wish for the best. Hopefully, google will leave most everything untouched, which is doubtful since there can be a lot of copywritten stuff on there.

I think we will get the real feeling of what is going to happen in the next week or so. They work quickly I am sure.

I have a feeling that investment bankers who took care of this deal are laughing their way to the (commercial) bank.

Was just checking out YT, and found out that many new files uploaded have been rejected... even ones that aren't even a little offensive....

I wasn't aware that you can know the contents of rejected stuff.... where did you hear this?

Oh, and for something random... a message from the founders...

google
youtube
yougle
gootube
pootube?

I don't really see a good future in this purchase. I've never used YT, but I've seen a lot of stuff on it and a lot of it is getting cracked down on now (the copyrighted stuff especially), I don't really see a future with this.