Legal Accountability for User-Posted Copyright Violations
It is debatable whether social media platforms such as YouTube should be held legally liable when their users upload content that infringes on the rights of others. According to Wojcicki (2018), holding platforms accountable for all user-generated content would be impractical, result in increased censorship, and limit opportunities for creators to reach their audiences. There must be a happy medium that considers the realities of producing and disseminating media in the digital age.
Evaluating YouTube’s Current Response Measures
Although YouTube’s current policies, such as take-down requests and the Content ID system, are steps in the right direction, more is needed to prevent copyright violations on social media sites. Wojcicki (2018) notes that these safeguards could be better and may incorrectly classify non-infringing content as illegal. Since these security measures apply only to YouTube, other social media platforms may provide a different level of protection. Extra caution is required to prevent widespread copyright infringement on social media platforms.
Extending Responsibility to Other Platforms
This issue of copyright infringement on social media sites does not only affect YouTube but also Facebook and Twitter. As a result, any policy or regulation addressing this issue should apply to all social media platforms rather than just one. Wojcicki (2018) contends that different platforms may have varying degrees of success in combating copyright infringement. As a result, any solution must be adaptable enough to account for these differences and enable each platform to implement measures best suited to it.
Striking a Balance for All Stakeholders
All parties must be considered to reach a fair solution that benefits platforms, copyright holders, and users. According to Wojcicki (2018), any viable solution must respect the rights of users and artists while protecting the interests of content creators and publishers. Platforms should also be allowed to operate and experiment without fear of legal repercussions. Better detection and removal technology, more open policies for users and creators, and more collaborative efforts between platforms and copyright holders could all be components of a solution that strikes this balance.
Reference
Wojcicki, S. (2018). The potential unintended consequences of Article 13. blog.youtube. Web.