New York Federal Judge Grants Summary Judgment For Google/Youtube: Landmark DMCA Victory In Viacom Litigation

On June 23, 2010, Judge Louis Stanton of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted Google's motion for summary judgment in a $1 billion copyright lawsuit filed by Viacom and a group of putative class action plaintiffs, including the Premier League (the top English soccer league) and the National Music Publishers Association. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati represented Google and YouTube throughout these high-profile matters.

The plaintiffs brought claims against Google and YouTube for direct and secondary copyright infringement based on YouTube’s hosting of content posted to the service by its users. YouTube argued that it is immune from infringement liability because it qualifies for the protection of the § 512(c) safe harbor of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The parties cross-moved for summary judgment. In his decision, Judge Stanton agreed with YouTube and granted summary judgment “against all of plaintiffs’ claims for direct and secondary copyright infringement.”