The YouTube Warner Deal

According to the Wall Street Journal, YouTube has double pinky swore to Warner Brothers that it will implement some kind of technology in order to credit Warner artists will royalties based on music played on its submitted videos. The deal will surely be the first among many the big labels will be inking with the likes of YouTube and Google Video. Make The Most of YouTube. Although this agreement will give YouTube the permission to use Warner properties in "legal" ways, you can't help wondering how permissive Warner will be now they have affirmed ownership and will most likely pull any material used in a fashion that they don't approve - for one reason or another.

But sites like YouTube, which are devoid of a solid business model, cannot survive forced royalties to Warner, let alone when the other corporate playa haters come calling - EMI, Universal, Sony, BMG [breath] BMI, ASCAP, SESAC, James Hetfield [breath] Harry Fox. Unfortunately, user-generated content sites may have to switch to a subscription-type of service or "pay to post" site which would undoubtedly ruin their web cred and send eyeballs elsewhere.