YouTube threatened with big copyright action

Global Music Rights is a performing rights company run by Irving Azoff, which competes with established organisations ASCAP and BMI. Its clients include Pharrell Williams (right), Smokey Robinson, the Eagles and John Lennon.

It claims that 20,000 videos on YouTube are not licensed. Royalties could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars.

Azoff told the Hollywood Reporter that YouTube “have been the least cooperative and the company our clients feel are the worst offenders” and threatened to sue the company for copyright infringement.

Google has responded by accusing Global Music Rights of attempting to circumvent the DMCA.

Global Music Rights is represented by Howard E King of King Holmes Paterno & Berliner in Los Angeles. David H Kramer of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati acts for Google in the case.

Google and Viacom settled their seven-year legal battle over YouTube videos in March this year. It was claimed at the time that no money changed hands.