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The Daily Insight Hub

Why is copyright so strict?

Author

Andrew Campbell

Updated on January 18, 2026

People who own the copyright to creative content are strict with it, because copyright infringement can diminish the value or potential earnings of that content. People are strict about other people’s copyright because respecting other people’s property is part of their value system.

Why is YouTube so strict about copyright?

Originally Answered: Why is YouTube so strict with copyright? To protect the interest of creators, encourage original content and prevent misuse, YouTube maintains a strict enforcement policy for copyright. Being fair to original creators is the prime concern here.

Are copyright laws too harsh?

Yes, the point of copyright is specifically that authors are allowed to be strict, or not, as they prefer. This is their right be being the one that created the work in the first place. And that right eventually expires. In the United States of America, copyright law is a delicate balancing act.

Can you sue for unregistered copyright?

You Cannot Sue for Copyright Infringement of an Unregistered Copyright. By simply creating something with artistic value, you own a copyright to that artistic work. However, you cannot sue for copyright infringement unless you have registered your copyright.

Why is copyright not good?

(1) Copyright laws don’t actually serve their intended purpose of “helping” the public. (3) The laws are so complicated and unclear that they can be easily abused by companies with access to lawyers. (4) It’s too complicated and expensive for individual artists to actually enforce the rights that the law gives them.

What is a disadvantage of copyright?

The primary disadvantage for copyrights is that copyrights protect the expression of an idea, not the idea itself. Copyright law protects the way the author expressed the invention in the article; however, the actual invention described in the article does not receive copyright protection.

Is watching anything on YouTube illegal?

Those exclusive rights do not pertain to, or restrict, anyone who may see a work or its display or performance. Consequently, watching a YouTube (or any other) video cannot constitute copyright infringement (i.e., is not “illegal”).

When did Viacom sue Google for copyright infringement?

On March 13, 2007, Viacom filed a US $1 billion lawsuit against Google and YouTube alleging that the site had engaged in “brazen” copyright infringement by allowing users to upload and view copyrighted material owned by Viacom.

Why did Viacom file a complaint against YouTube?

The complaint stated that over 150,000 unauthorized clips of Viacom’s programming, such as SpongeBob SquarePants, had been made available on YouTube, and that these clips had collectively been viewed 1.5 billion times. Viacom claimed that YouTube had infringed on its copyrights by performing, displaying, and reproducing Viacom’s copyrighted works.

Why was Viacom not protected by the video Privacy Protection Act?

Judge Stanton held that because YouTube is not a “videotape service provider” as defined in the Video Privacy Protection Act, its users’ data was not protected under the act. However, Judge Stanton rejected Viacom’s request that YouTube hand over the source code of its search engine, saying that it was a “trade secret”.

Why did Viacom file a motion for summary judgment?

A motion for summary judgment seeking dismissal was filed by Google and was granted in 2010 on the grounds that the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ‘s ” safe harbor ” provisions shielded Google from Viacom’s copyright infringement claims. In 2012, on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, it was overturned in part.