The YouTube Copyright School is now open and accepting pupils who need re-educating about what can and can’t legitimately be posted to the site. Only dunces can possibly fail to pass this particular test, but I bet many still will.

Copyright Infringement

Copyright infringement is rife on the Internet, and online video contributes a fair share of the problem. It’s partly the fault of copyright owners, of course, who generally haven’t grasped the opportunity the Web offers, leaving a vacuum filled by non-legal methods of distribution. But still.

YouTube used to be a lawless place with copyright infringement happening all over the place, which is why Viacom is suing the company. But since Google acquired the site the problem has been minimized, with systems in place to identify and delete clips which infringe copyrights quickly and efficiently.

However, some people still try to get away with it.

Continue Reading…

The Web is increasingly becoming a place where creative ideas are being conceived and brought to life. And Web video series are a big part of that trend. The latest series to make the transition from new to old media is The Annoying Orange.

Web Video Breaking Out

One of the biggest successes is Fred, AKA Lucas Cruikshank, who managed to turn a simple and fairly stupid idea into enough of a hit that he and it was picked up by Nickelodeon and ended up being turned into a feature film co-starring Pixie Lott. None too shabby by any standard.

There has also been a host of other successes: Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog on DVD, Nordkalotten 365 and Pioneer One on BitTorrent, Blank on BitTorrent and DVD. Shorts uploaded to the Internet have also got their creators noticed in the wider world: Andrew Allen (The Thomas Beale Cypher), Federico Alvarez (Ataque de Panico!), and Patrick Jean (Pixels).

And Shit My Dad Says went from being a Twitter stream to a sitcom on CBS starring William Shatner.

Continue Reading…

YouTube has finally, after literally years of promises, gone live. YouTube Live suggests Google is serious about turning its online video site into a viable alternative to cable television for the increasing number of people cutting the cord and turning to the Web instead.

YouTube Live?

YouTube’s desire to have a live element on the site goes back at least three years, as it was in 2008 that YouTube co-founder Steve Chen teased live streaming was on its way.

There then followed some high-profile events which did air live on YouTube, including a U2 concert and Indian Premier League cricket matches. But these were rare and completely controlled by YouTube itself, with no one else able to join in the streaming fun (apart from watching, obviously).

Last September saw YouTube finally testing its long-awaited live platform, with a select band of partners invited to be the first to try it out. Unfortunately poor video quality and choppy streaming suggested the product wasn’t yet ready for the big time.

Continue Reading…

The next year looks like being an interesting one for YouTube, as Google is reportedly seeking to redesign the site to make vertical channels full of original content its main hub. Hopefully without annoying or scaring off its current partners and content creators.

YouTube Evolving

YouTube has been evolving pretty much since it launched in 2005. Some of the evolutionary steps were forced upon the site – cleaning up the copyright-infringing content – while some has been as a response to what is happening in the wider world of the Web and beyond.

One of the biggest moves is from being a video site that’s all about UGC (user-generated content) to one that comprises a mix of amateur and professionally-produced videos. While UGC is still the heart and soul of the site, the body parts which pay dividends come from known producers.

According to the Wall Street Journal the latest step on this journey is creating vertical channels full of original video content. I guess that explains the Next New Networks acquisition then.

Continue Reading…

Barack Obama is hoping to remain as President of te United States of America when the U.S. election rolls around again in November 2012. And he’s used online video, specifically YouTube, to begin his campaign for re-election to the highest office in the land.

Presidential Election Campaign

U.S. President Barack Obama has launched his campaign for re-election a full 19 months before the voters of America will be able to have their say. Politically that says a lot about the state of politics, especially in the United States where almost half of a president’s term in office is dedicated to being elected for another four years.

But putting politics aside, it’s the method of how President Obama has launched his bid to remain at the White House that is interesting. Forget glossy posters and continual television ads, because the Web now rules supreme. And online video is an essential tool in the arsenal.

Continue Reading…

Ah April Fools Day, how I hate thee so. Fortunately this year’s fake frivolity has been livened up by YouTube transporting us 100 years into the past.

April Fools Day 2011

Today is April Fools Day 2011, in case you hadn’t realized by now. April 1 comes but once a year, and I have to say I’m pleased about that because the pranks and jokes which dominate the Web on this day every 12 months would start to annoy if they were any more often.

Thankfully there are always some gems around, and this year is no exception. Google has once again delivered; its best (in my opinion) being the reverting of YouTube to its origins way back in 1911. Yes, that’s right folks, YouTube is celebrating its centenary in style.

Continue Reading…

The Thomas Beale Cypher is an amazing and innovative short film which can be seen online for free. Its creator, Andrew Allen, believes online video is the way forward for short filmmakers, even trumping film festivals for generating views and interest.

Online Video Trumps Film Festivals?

Creators of independent or short films often have to spend a year on the road showing, talking about, and promoting their work at the numerous film festivals that take place around the world. It’s often tricky to impress or get noticed at these events, purely because of the amount of other films being shown.

However, there could be an alternative that is becoming more and more viable by the day. Online video. Sure, there is even more competition out there on the Web, but with good timing, great contacts, and the ubiquitous dash of luck, it can work out very well indeed.

As the filmmaker behind The Thomas Beale Cypher recently discovered.

Continue Reading…