TF1 loses case against YouTube

A PARIS court has ruled in favour of Google, after TF1 took the internet giant to court with claims of counterfeiting, unfair competition and “parasitism”.

The TV station was demanding €150 million for Google subsidiary YouTube allegedly having allowed people to post up episodes of programmers or films to which TF1 has the rights in France.

They included children’s animation Barba papa, Edith Piaf biopic la Môme (Le Vie en Rose) or Halloween.

Instead, the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris dismissed the case and ordered TF1 to pay €80,000 costs to Google.

The court said YouTube was a hosting site and not necessarily responsible for content appearing on it. It was not obliged to vet content – as TF1 had said it should. The current arrangements were acceptable.

These include removing copyright content if asked to do so by the owner, following checks as to the validity of the claim. It also has software aimed at identifying such content and a policy of notifying owners, who can have it taken down or can agree to a share of advertising revenue.

YouTube’s head of partnerships for Southern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Christophe Mueller, said the decision “represents a victory for the internet and for all those who depend on the web to exchange ideas and information.”

TF1 said it is considering an appeal against the judgment, which was “surprising in several aspects”.