grandpa - 11:26 am on Mar 14, 2007 (gmt 0)

The cat and the mouse.

Google said it was in the process of removing the Viacom content, but legal experts said that process is key to the dispute. Under federal law, the onus is on the copyright holder to inform Web sites like YouTube that it is infringing on copyrighted material. As a result, even as YouTube pulls down material, users can post more. By filing a lawsuit, Viacom strongly indicated it had tired of this cat-and-mouse process. Chicago Tribune By Eric Benderoff Tribune staff reporter Published March 14, 2007

This same article goes on to infer that kids may be responsible for uploading most of the material....

And let's not forget that Google/YouTube has already signed deals with CBS, BBC and the NBA for rights to show clips. Viacom and others will eventually come on board with YouTube, or create their own version. As a model, people want this material on the web as well as their TV's.

I think Google's position is weak on this case, and they will pay. Who among us believes they never expected this?
For Google it's a Lose-Win deal.