Innovation in Software

According to CNET Eric Schmidt is saying filtering of copyright material on YouTube is about to be turned on.

I say that is an amazingly good thing for the Web in general, and UGC sites in particular.

If you go to YouTube today it is full of clips from mainstream media interspersed with attention-seeking idiots and experiments with Mentos and Diet Coke. Right now, mainstream media have nothing to fear from YouTube because it is merely TV cut up and made more convenient for people with ADD. By demanding that MSM-sourced material is removed, they are relinquishing control and demanding that the users compete with them directly.

If we get rid of the mainstream media from UGC video sites, we’ll actually see a proliferation of UGC. Nature abhors a vacuum, and nothing fills it quicker than YouTube users. I think people will quickly get bored of op-ed pieces to camera, and we’ll see a more creative spirit flourish because suddenly the audience will be looking for it, rather than just finding clips of comedy shows and watching them in lieu of doing something more creative instead.

The week of the 23rd April through the 29th is TV Turnoff Week and my own experience shows a proliferation of creative activity when my time is not being stolen by a piece of furniture. Content filtering on UGC sites will have a similar effect – when you can’t watch clips of Family Guy any more, you might try and fill that time with producing something yourself, and if that happens in just 1% of cases, we’ll see a sharp uptick in quality UGC found on the video sites.

People shouldn’t bemoan copyright material filtering on YouTube – they should applaud it, and encourage it as the dawn of a new era in users taking control of the media they consume. Viacom are willing Google to ensure Viacom can’t control their audience any more: that’s to Viacom’s detriment and to our benefit. Viva la revolution! :-)