C-Net News is reporting on how video on the web is being used in a new program on Bravo. I’m not sure why they didn’t address VH1’s similar effort, but the article addresses at least half of the big story here: the expansion of user-created video on the web may give large media companies an easy, free source of content.
For TV producers, it’s simply a cheap way to develop a show. In the classic model of programming production, content producers would invest a lot of money upfront to create a pilot show and test it with audiences. By patrolling the Internet, TV producers can draw on material that’s already proved popular with online audiences and put it on TV with comparatively little investment.
While those of us who are already watching most of our video online won’t be interested in these shows, perhaps some tempted by the possibility of fame will give their work away.
And this is the twist:
Certainly Bravo and VH1 would be quick to file a lawsuit if any of their content was used without authorization…would they be tempted to use a “great” video if they couldn’t track down the owner? An amature video creator wanting to defend the rights to their work may be no match for the deep pockets of a media corporation.
But why steal or pay for someone’s content, when you can get it in a contest? VH1’s WebJunk program has a contest where:
You could win a Digital Entertainment Center with Intel VIIV technology and the Aquos liquid crystal TV from Sharp!
So, according to the contest rules, anyone who enters (meaning compensated winners and unlucky losers) gives away their rights to MTV and IFilm (see clause 14).
Copyright was created to grant authors protection for their work, so that they can make a living off their creativity. The chance for abuse of creators in this case is too great to ignore.