The Rise of User-Generated Video on the Web: White Paper and Podcast from West Look into the Laws

EAGAN, Minn., May 12, 2008 - With video cameras and video editing software more accessible and easy to use than ever, it's no surprise that homemade production of video is a part of so many people's daily lives. But can this so-called user-generated content include multimedia from television networks, movie studios and the music industry?

As the Viacom v. Google case moves through the courts, legal scholars are handicapping the outcome. Rodney Smolla, dean of Washington and Lee School of Law and a West Key Author, wrote about the issue in a white paper from West titled "The Billion-Dollar Battle Between Viacom and Google: Commercialization of User-Generated Content and Copyright Protections Afforded to Parody."

Viacom's lawsuit against Google claims that YouTube, and its army of video enthusiasts, engages in massive violation of Viacom's copyright interests tied to content from many of its most popular properties. In his white paper, and in a new Westcast podcast, Smolla says the case is critical to the future of YouTube and other video-sharing sites.

"This is the mother of all copyright suits and the implications are staggering," Smolla says. "Both sides have some very strong legal arguments, there are billions of dollars at stake and I'd be a fool to guess who's going to win."

Note to editors: To listen to the podcast featuring Rodney Smolla, go to the Westcast Web site at http://feeds.feedburner.com/Westcast.

The white paper also includes a list of resources from West to help anyone interested in this emerging area of the law understand more about the protection of copyrights. Click here to read his white paper.

About West
Headquartered in Eagan, Minn., West is the foremost provider of integrated information solutions, software and services to the U.S. legal market. West is a business within Thomson Reuters. For more information, please visit the West website at west.thomson.com.

About Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, scientific, healthcare and media markets, powered by the world's most trusted news organization. With headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs more than 50,000 people in 93 countries. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Toronto Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. For more information, go to www.thomsonreuters.com.