Youtube - Or, how to deal with a broken system?

[Crni Vuk]

This is pretty interesting. First time I hear about this particular case:

Our last 23 days have been great! Unfortunately we have gotten no where with YouTube's support system. 1 strike has disabled every feature on our account, the YouTube counter DMCA form was not only broken for us, but a different login to the account provided a completely different and WORKING form. Lot's more in the video, and we'll probably have another video or two related to this in the coming weeks about how broken the current system is.

I never was much of a fan of their chanel, outside of watching 2 or 3 videos. But even I have heard about them. They have been on Youtube for very long.

However, it seems this is only the last action by Youtube of many many bad things. Here in Germany for example, since Youtube can't find a way to figure out how to deal with the GEMA,

Spoiler: Fuck them

The Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungs- und mechanische Vervielfältigungsrechte (GEMA; English: Society for musical performing and mechanical reproduction rights) is a state-authorized collecting society and performance rights organization based in Germany, with administrative offices in Berlin and Munich. GEMA represents the usage rights stemming from authors' rights (e.g., mechanical licensing, broadcast licensing, synchronization licensing) for the musical works of those composers, lyricists, and publishers who are members in the organization. It is the only such institution in Germany and a member of BIEM and CISAC. Other collecting societies include the Gesellschaft der Autoren, Komponisten und Musikverleger (de) (AKM) in Austria and SUISA in Switzerland.

they have this habbit of simply banning videos. Just because it contains, maybe, some kind of intro or part of a music video or what ever, which is falling under the "authors rights". Even if it makes no sense! And thats just for here. A lot of youtubers have complained about issues over the years.

And I feel, it can only get worse over time. If you consider how popular this kind of media has become, how many people share their content, views and opinon over youtube and similar platforms. And yet, how ... ambigious it is. As company. And with their decisions. What if you make most of your living on youtube, and quite succesfully. And suddenly, without giving a reason, they simply shut down your chanel. Impossible? Well. Look above. What are you supposed to do? Fill out a lawsuit?

I really feel like this is something that gets very often ignored today. But it might become a serious issue in the future.

So what do you guys think? Does youtube need a reform?

 

[Ninja]

Not much to add on the topic, many content creators on Youtube have discussed it to death. Problem #1 seems to be the monopoly Youtube has, as other platforms such as Vimeo or DailyMotion simply aren't as polished, and as seen with giants such as Rockefeller and Carnegie, that gives you the power to pretty much do whatever the fuck you want. Power, in the hands of Youtube/Google, is then distributed to channels based on popularity, not quality, since that's how the cash is made. And there's really nothing commoners like them or us can do about it.

 

[Crni Vuk]

But it seems popularity isn't really protecting you either - see the video above. I am just curious where this will end. Think about the next 20 or 40 years, when more and more generations grow up with a media that becomes even more a part of your live. I kinda feel that politicans completley ignore youtube and many other parts of internet culture, despite the fact how many people use it.

Imagine if the post office would open your letters - regularly, just for giggles.

 

[LonesomeDrifter]

Imagine if the post office would open your letters - regularly, just for giggles.

Shit. Think I could keep my laptop while locked up in an asylum, or must I refer to traditional techniques of using my feces to updated the status on my wall?

Back to topic. It's one way of cashing in. You can acquire the right to use the desired sample, but it will cost you - if they ban your video and generally disallow the use of even only bits of it or something faintly related to it, you'll be forced to acquire the rights to it for use. With how media these days can be related to drugs in a sick and twisted way - once you're hooked up on something the dealer's got all the free choice in the world to raise the price or make changes he sees fit; you need his stuff, you might hate it but hey, you'll pay more if needed just to get it. Same with YouTube - it's so popular, so integrated everywhere that they can do anything they want - you'll just agree with it even if it turns out to be absurd. You need that.

I kinda feel that politicans completley ignore youtube and many other parts of internet culture, despite the fact how many people use it.

Politics still continue with their traditional, formalist approaches. But who can blame them, when corporations have advanced and acquired power so quickly, like watching Roadrunner speed past Willy in an eye blink. I at least speak for my country, where you can easily see where politics stand in terms of communicating with the public based on their outdated, 1991 websites and graphic design straight from the hands of an elementary school kid. AND THEN you have the commercial world, which is such a huge contrast.