Google Makes Empty Promises Concerning Youtube

Youtube.com was so popular because it allowed anyone and everyone ability to post videos, without having to worry too much about copyright issues. In essence, it was fun, fun watching videos, fun uploading videos, fun finding videos that weren't released yet...I'm sure you've browsed Youtube.com and once or twice thought to yourself, I bet I wasn't supposed to watch this!

Since Google bought You Tube there have been all kinds of copyright issues, money paid to companies to avoid lawsuits, and lots of big music corporations, including Universal Music, putting their foot down on widely distributed copyrighted videos.

Here are some of my previous posts, as I've tried following this very serious and confusing issue:

TV Networks Discussing YouTube Rival

Google Copyright Infringement Confirmed: At least One Lawsuit

Google and You Tube Face Copyright Infringement

Google's $1.65 Billion purchase, a High Risk Investment?

These are in order from most recent, to latest.

Anyway, on to the latest, latest Google-Youtube copyright issue. Warner Music made Google and Youtube promise to have an anti-piracy system in place that would feature an "advanced content identification and royalty reporting system."

Google broke their promise.

It was promise to Warner Music in exchange for the free distribution of videos, artist interviews and other music related content.

The new addition to the site isn't up, but Youtube has a warning at the bottom of the videos, "Use at your own risk."

Not so much fun anymore. Youtube could end up being the late Napster. Everyone stops using it after a few horror stories about users doing jail time for downloading their favorite "Eminem" video. Time will tell!

Apple Charged $84 Million, Invest in Apple?

Do you invest in Apple? Jobs has reportedly been accused of "irregularities" in stock option allocation.

They have taken a $84 million dollar charge, while other companies are being brought into the stock mess. Including News.com publisher CNET Networks, who have been forced to investigate whether stock grants were backdated, a practice in which the grant date of an option is moved to coincide with a low point in the value of a company's shares.

Another company, Juniper Networks said that it would take a charge of $900 million. Criminal charges and civil charges have been filed against former executives of storage vendor Brocade Systems.

An update reported in the same article said that Apple announced Friday that they are defending Executive Steve Jobs in allegations of stock forgery.

Full Article concerning Apple's $84 Million charge and Steve Jobs stock allegations.

Google Groups Beta: Get Your Real Estate Now!

Google offers many assets to web masters, bloggers and internet users. They have an entire platform with different types of tools that can be used to track website traffic, sell ad space, post on directories, etc. Their toolbar is also an amazing asset for all web professionals as it offers immediate website ranking information, spell check, and lots of other customizable options for users.

Google Groups is a Google tool I came across just last night while playing with their vast array for performance utilities. I noticed that the Google Group Beta version has just recently come out, and that it is VERY easy to begin a Google Group. It is also free, and can be used for many different things.

I predict that the Google Group names will go fast, and just like purchasing a hot URL name, if you have interest in anything particular, from Google, to Blogging to MP3 players, you should sign up for a group and stake you real estate before someone else does!

Here are some things that the Google Groups Offer:

1. Administrative abilities--You can give other users and those who join the ability to be an administrator

2. Mass E-Mail and mailing list options

3. Tracking system

4. File Upload and Download (!!) Very cool

These are some of the uses that Google Groups could have:

1. Manage a project with multiple contributors

2. Market a website, idea, group that already exists

3. School projects

4. Group Books, contributing authors, etc.

It's kind of like a small Content Management system, with the administrative abilities and contributing abilities. But, Google will List your Group in their directory so you get automatic exposure. Also it is really easy to begin a new group and start e-mailing those who may be interested.

Sign up for the Google Groups at http://groups.google.com/