One point six five billion dollars. Mull that a moment. Is there more impact using digits? $1,650,000,000 – how’s that?
Google is purchasing youtube.com for that ridiculous price. I’m stunned.
Don’t get me wrong, I use youtube.com. I go there all the time, whether on my own initiative or following a link. I even understand how they’ll (probably) make some profit.
Earlier I wrote how I don’t get this deal.
One thing has now changed. Youtube.com will be owned by a company with deep pockets. Google has billions stashed away. Lawsuits, not filed against the virtually judgementproof youtube.com, will now fly like poop from a greased goose.
There’s no way what youtube.com does with copyrighted work can be considered fair use. The RIAA, MPAA, TV networks… anyone whose material is online will want their fair share.
Is this a purchase or really the California Attorney’s Full Employment Act of 2006?
I’ve given up trying to decypher these hi-tech deals, especially the high profile ones like this. Remember when AOL bought Netscape? Made no sense. Then that AOL/Time/Warner mess. And of course, who can forget Napster?
Video on the internet has always been on the verge of being popular, and I hope this nudges it in a positive direction, but you’re probably right about all those pesky attorneys waiting in the wings to jump on this and ruin it.