Official Blog
A More Customized Local Experience on YouTube
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
YouTube is dedicated to presenting original content uploaded by people from around the globe. Last year, when we launched local YouTube sites around the world, we were able to more fully appreciate the diversity of talent in our global community.
Not all French speakers live in France. Japanese entertainment extends far beyond Japan. We are thrilled to unveil a truly global experience on
youtube.com
. We've enhanced the site so you can pick a language and, separately, a local lens for the content. For example, you can view today's Featured Videos for Canada while navigating the site interface in French, U.K. English, or any of the other 15 offered translations. The language and local content selection links are found in the masthead, right next to the YouTube logo.
And with YouTube localized in 19 geographies and available in 15 languages including Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese, there are 300 ways you can customize your international experience, making our site accessible to more people around the world -- even if you're a French-Canadian living in Italy and interested in what's popular in Korea. It
is
a small world after all.
Cheers,
The YouTube Team
YouTube and Omnisio Join Forces
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
As you probably guessed, we’re big fans of anything that lets people interact with online video and gives the YouTube community the chance to express themselves in creative ways. New features such as
Video Annotations
, which allow you to insert comments and information into the video itself, are just one example of how we're beginning to expand what you can do with your videos on the site.
It’s in this spirit that we’re thrilled to announce Google’s purchase of
Omnisio
, a small California-based startup that’s focused on making online video more useful and collaborative. The Omnisio team has tremendous technical expertise when it comes to advanced video tools and having this kind of talent at YouTube should help us further explore ways to enhance your YouTube experience.
We believe we’ve only scratched the surface in terms of what’s possible with online video, so stay tuned for other tools and features that will let you do even more with your videos.
Cheers,
The YouTube Team
YouTube Partner Program Expands to Brazil and Spain
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
From capoeira tutorials to flamenco dancing lessons, YouTube is home to many original, creative Spanish and Brazilian videos. It's important to us that we recognize the most popular and prolific international creators on YouTube, which is why today we're once again expanding the reach of the
YouTube Partner Program
, this time to Spain and Brazil.
With the addition of Spain and Brazil, we bring the tally of countries in the Partner Program to ten. By expanding this program internationally, we hope to showcase the immense talent and diversity of our global community, and compensate creators for the essential role they play on our site.
So if you have a significant following on YouTube -- like two of our newest Spanish partners,
wapeta
and
cronopio1979
-- and you'd like to make some more dinero (ou dinheiro),
apply now
.
The YouTube Team
YouTube Makes the World a Smaller Place
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
SAN BRUNO, CA--(July 30, 2008) - YouTube,™ today enables anyone to look for local videos from around the world in 15 different languages. By letting people select a geography and then choose a language, YouTube has made it even easier to enjoy local content -- even for people who don't speak the same language as the locals.
Using the new language and local content selection links found next to the YouTube logo throughout the website, any user can view today's Featured Videos for Canada, Brazil, or another listed geography while navigating the site interface in French, UK English, or any of the other offered translations.
"We're always looking for ways to improve the online video experience for our incredibly diverse global community," said Luis Garcia, YouTube International Product Manager. "I'm excited that we're now providing 300 ways to combine language with local and global content so our community members can customize their YouTube experience to reflect that diversity."
With this change, all localized YouTube destinations will be integrated into the global youtube.com site. For instance, people seeking videos on mx.youtube.com will be directed to youtube.com where they will see Mexican content in Spanish with links to search other languages and geographies.
YouTube began launching local sites just over a year ago, and has launched 19 to date including sites in the UK, Brazil, Japan, Korea, France and Germany that promote locally relevant videos. YouTube is currently available in 15 languages, including Spanish, French, Chinese, Russian and Portuguese.
About YouTube
YouTube is the world's most popular online video community allowing millions of people to discover, watch and share originally created videos. YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small. YouTube, LLC is based in San Bruno, Calif., and is a subsidiary of Google Inc.
Trendspotting Tuesday: Sign Language on YouTube
Monday, July 28, 2008
All kinds of people connect on YouTube every second of every day, but this week we wanted to call attention to one especially vibrant community on the site: the hearing-impaired. Online video is proving to be an effective medium for deaf vloggers, entertainers, educators, activists and the sign-language-curious to talk to and connect with each other:
The videos on the home page today represent just a sliver of what's out there in terms of content made by or for the hearing impaired. We focused mostly on American Sign Language (ASL), but we also spotted signed videos in many other languages (like
this one
of the Swedish alphabet), and we loved seeing the site used by the deaf community
to help organize a prom
,
to call out to cyclists
and
even to vent about a troublesome roommate
. In other words, this week's
Trendspotting Tuesday
may be sign-language-themed, but really it's just another day in the life of YouTube...
Best,
The YouTube Team
Nonprofit Program Hops the Pond, Launches in the U.K.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Thousands of nonprofit organizations have joined the
YouTube Nonprofit Program
since it was introduced in the United States last fall, and they've been using their channels to raise awareness about everything from
education
to
climate change
,
animal welfare
to
poverty alleviation
.
Today, we're pleased to announce the launch of the
United Kingdom Nonprofit Program
, which will provide U.K.-based nonprofit organizations who meet the acceptance criteria with benefits like increased branding and upload capacity, as well as the opportunity to be featured in the "promoted areas" of the site.
We're also extremely fortunate to have the help of five amazing nonprofit launch partners (
Beatbullying
,
Disasters Emergency Committee
,
Friends of the Earth
,
Missing People
, and
WaterAid
) who are sharing their expertise about how they use YouTube to promote their causes:
If you're a nonprofit organization based in the U.K., click
here
to find out more about the Nonprofit Program and to apply. And if you're a nonprofit who is headquartered outside the U.S. or U.K., we'll keep you posted as we expand the program to new corners of the world.
Peace,
Ramya R.
YouTube Nonprofits & Activism
Superhero Movies Versus Super Parody Videos
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Summer blockbuster movies mean big budgets, big expectations, big box office and, of course, some brazenly brilliant YouTube parody videos.
It's been impossible to ignore the superhero spectaculars that have filled the big screen this year. And for every new wave of heroics, we've seen YouTube videos that range from loving tribute to super-spoof.
Iron Man
got the summer off to a flying start, and user ItsJustSomeRandomGuy added to his popular series of "I'm a Mac..." parodies with a hysterical head-to-head between
Marvel's Iron Man and Batman for DC
. User COL321 also went the action-figure route with this
note perfect spoof of the
Iron Man
trailer
.
The next hero flick to hit the multiplexes,
The Incredible Hulk
provided inspiration for
this blockbuster hit
from the Barely Political team, and
an equally skin-baring tribute
from theattack. Leaving no stone unturned, Mike from JeepersMedia launched an attack of his own, with this review of
the worst Incredible Hulk tie-in toy ever
.
The summer's more oddball heroes were not ignored - user asathecomic gave
Hancock
the
Tay Zonday treatment
(in true franchise style, that video
comes with a sequel
). Meanwhile
Hellboy II
received
the reliable ItsJustSomeRandomGuy treatment
in addition to this
less-seen stop-motion gem
.
For many, all of this was merely a prelude to the arrival of
The Dark Knight
, and Batman got many creative minds thinking. There's
this bizarre Borat-meets-the-Joker-Bat spoof
, a quirky cartoon face off between
Batman and Spiderman
and some spectacular fan-remakes of the movie trailer, both
in Lego
and in
jaw-dropping fanboy-filled live action
. You can check out all of these movie parodies in this video player which comes as well-loaded as Batman's utility belt.
Cheers,
Mark D.
YouTube Comedy
Last Chance to be a Red Carpet Reporter
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Based on some of your comments and emails saying that the entry period for the People.com/YouTube
Be a Red Carpet Reporter contest
was too short, we have decided to extend the deadline for submissions by an additional 48 hours – which means that July 23 will be the last, last day to interview your way to TV's biggest red carpet event.
The premise is simple: send us your best two- to four-minute video showing off your interview skills with a family member or friend, using your front walk as a red carpet. Submissions are due by midnight EST on the 23rd, after which a team of PEOPLE.com editors and red carpet correspondents will narrow the field to 10 finalists. Then it's up to PEOPLE.com and the YouTube community to select the best red carpet reporter to be flown to the L.A. event. (
Read the full rules
to ensure that your video qualifies for this contest.)
Good luck, and hope to see you on the red carpet!
The YouTube Team
Trendspotting Tuesday: Religion on YouTube
Monday, July 21, 2008
YouTube teems with videos representing a multitude of viewpoints, especially when it comes to users who are passionately engaged with religion or spirituality. This week’s
Trendspotting Tuesday
showcases those folks who use the site as their pulpit, demonstrating that you don’t have to go to India to have a guru (for example) and that you can preach to your “congregation” right from your comfy living room armchair. Naturally, this playlist could have been as long and as plentiful as all the viewpoints out there, so consider it just a randomly ordered taster of how some spiritual people are using the site:
Peace,
The YouTube Team
No Longer a Small Potato
Monday, July 21, 2008
For years, the potato has been an integral part of the global food system, serving as the world's number one non-grain food commodity. Now, as food shortages around the world become more prevalent, and the
price of other staple foods like wheat, maize, and rice skyrocket
, the humble spud is becoming an even more important player in the international fight against hunger. That's why the
United Nations
has decided to give the potato its rightful due, by naming 2008 the
International Year of the Potato
:
The aim of the
International Year of the Potato
is two-fold: to raise awareness about the crucial role of the potato in agriculture and economic security around the world, especially in developing nations, and to promote sustainable potato-based systems which would provide nutritious food for present and future generations. Other organizations besides the UN are also using YouTube to pitch in and meet these objectives. For example, the
Idaho Potato Commission
recently launched "
ITuber Take
," a contest which invited potato aficionados to create and submit YouTube videos about potatoes:
In celebration, other YouTube users are offering practical advice, like
expertvillage
, who is educating others on how to plant, grow, and harvest potatoes, and chefs Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarborough, authors of the Ultimate Potato book, who
demonstrate an easy recipe for Indian potato curry
.
In, ahem, starch contrast, if you're in the mood for a little music, you can enjoy Potato 2008 by reveling in the melodic stylings of this
potato choir
, which received
RocketBoom recognition
, or watch the classic
"My Name is Potato" video
performed by Italian songstress Rita Pavone. And if you like your baked potato with sour cream, chives, and a dash of the ridiculous, you may want to explore this
"Conan O'Brien"-led potato dance posse
, which puts Michael Flatley to shame.
For more on how YouTube users are taking this opportunity to celebrate their carb-laden pal, take a look at the full playlist of "YouTuberlicious" videos:
Spudtacularly yours,
Ramya R.
YouTube Nonprofits & Activism
Tech Vloggers Are Phoning It In
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Cell phones created a big buzz in tech lately, and YouTube's tech vloggers have been working overtime to unbox, critique and compare the latest models.
For eager Apple fans, every step of the iPhone 3G's arrival has been documented, from the
lines outside the Apple store
to the
unboxing
of just-purchased phones. There are videos
comparing the original iPhone and the 3G successor
, videos reviewing the latest
downloadable apps from the AppStore
, and for those suffering from iPhone fatigue, Tom from Blendtec gives an iPhone the
"Will It Blend?"
treatment. Check out a few of our 3G favorites in this video playlist.
Of course, you don't have to be an Apple obsessive to get into the technology trenches with YouTube's gadget gurus. While john4lakers is delivering his take on
24 hours with his new iPhone
, PhoneDog Noah is putting some other slick handsets to the test with a head-to-head dogfight between
the LG Dare and Samsung Instinct
. Meanwhile, SlashGear is unboxing
the Treo 800w
, TigerDirectBlog is getting hands-on with
the HTC Touch Dual
and absolon3 is giving his
first impression of the Nokia E17
.
By the time the iPhone residue has been cleaned off of the blender blades, there are sure to be dozens more videos posted on the various handsets, smart phones, touch screens and other gadgets that make up the "most wanted" lists of our tech experts. And there will doubtlessly be no shortage of opinions on offer, from "get it now!" fanboys to "wait and see!" skeptics. Who knew that cell phones would give us so much to talk about?
Cheers,
The YouTube Team
Guru Challenge: Princess Diana Cook-Off
Saturday, July 19, 2008
It's time for another Guru Challenge and this month
Princess Diana161
wants to see what's cooking (specifically summer recipes):
We all know there are some talented chefs on YouTube and we want to see them make everything from grilled hamburgers to tasty desserts. (The best ones just might make our home page.) Just upload your video as a response to
Princess Diana's humorous call to action
.
New to the Guru Challenges? They're for users making HowTo videos -- or for those who need a reason to start. Our first challenge with
Zoo York
was a call out to see your creative ways for
spreading the word
, and it generated some fun responses:
Our next challenge was
a green-themed one
, with architect
Michelle Kaufmann
asking to see how you would reuse and recycle an item you would normally throw away. Here's a peek at some of the best entries that have come in so far:
Now get cookin!,
Sadia H.
YouTube HowTo & Style
New YouTube Community Help Forums
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Community Help Forums
have just been launched! This new discussion board is the official place to share ideas, feedback, ask and answer questions, and offer general help to your fellow YouTube community members. Here, you can find out the latest on
Announcements
,
Bug Reports & Issues
,
How-to's
and
TestTube Feedback
.
You can access the Community Help Forums through the
Community Tab
, our
Help Center
or by clicking the
Community Help Forums
link displayed at the bottom of most pages on the site. In addition to related articles, forum posts are now included within search results in the Help Center. Although YouTube staff may jump in periodically to post updates on bugs, upcoming features or make general announcements, the purpose of this board is for experts from our community (like you) to have a centralized place to post commonly asked questions and provide answers about site usage. You must be logged into your YouTube and Google account to post a question or reply, but anyone can read messages on the Community Help Forums. You will need to click on "Join this group" upon your first visit to the forums, then you can post as often as you like while still logged in.
Our ultimate goal is to make
Community Help Forums
the easiest and fastest way to get help on YouTube - but we can't do it without you. We encourage everyone to stay active, post often and help us make this discussion board the main destination for users to seek help from community experts.
The YouTube Team
Radiohead's "House of Cards" Laser Premiere
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Leave it to the pioneering British band Radiohead to make a video without a camera or lights. Witness the data+laser magic of "House of Cards" on our home page today or right here:
So how did they do it? With the help of 3D image capturing created by two technology companies:
Geometric Informatics
and
Velodyne LIDAR
. Their scanning systems produce structured light to capture up-close 3D images, while another system uses multiple lasers to capture large, landscape-type environments. In this video, 64 lasers rotating and shooting in a 360 degree radius 900 times per minute produced all the exterior scenes. Here's a video that may give you a better idea of all the machinery involved:
You can also find this data-centric bit of creativity on Google's
code website
, which contains additional
pieces of data
available for incorporation into your own visualizations. Upload such videos to Radiohead's YouTube
group
if you'd like to share them with the band and the YouTube community. Thanks to a
Creative Commons
license, all the data used to produce this music video is being made available to share with you.
Now, join in -- go forth and manipulate data!
Geeking out,
Michele K-Tel
YouTube Music
Trendspotting Tuesdays: Language Lessons
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
We've received a lot of vibrant feedback about our
Trendspotting Tuesday
features, and the idea for this week's takeover comes from
SammieTV
, who noted that there's no shortage of users teaching others their native tongues or wanting to practice their language skills.
In fact, whittling down the list to just 12 videos was not an easy task, as it seems like there's
someone
on YouTube teaching just about every language ever known to human kind. We've got Greek, Swahili, Spanish, Arabic, Korean, Thai, German and more covered on our playlist, while
LeylaRandomness
teaches French to English
and
Japanese speakers and
latinguy2009
expertly ushers a dead language into the 21st century. Check out the full playlist:
So as you prepare to do a little summer travel these next few months (if it is indeed summer where you live), don't forget to seek out some language assistance from YouTube's global community of multilingual gurus. They've got a lot to share with you.
Ciao/Au revoir/Auf Wiedersehen,
The YouTube Team
The Law and Your Privacy: An Update
Monday, July 14, 2008
As
we let you know on July 4
, YouTube received a court order to produce viewing history data. We are pleased to report that Viacom, MTV and other litigants have backed off their original demand for all users' viewing histories and we will not be providing that information. (Read the official legalese
here
.)
In addition, Viacom and the plaintiffs had originally demanded access to users' private videos, our search technology, and our video identification technology. Our lawyers strongly opposed each of those demands and the court sided with us.
We'll keep you informed of any important developments in this lawsuit. We remain committed to protecting your privacy and we'll continue to fight for your right to share and broadcast your work on YouTube.
Sincerely,
The YouTube Team
Living Legends Presents Rap Pioneers
Saturday, July 12, 2008
The latest installment of YouTube's Living Legends series is a double dose, featuring two of the greatest rappers of all time. These reigning members of hip-hop royalty represent both East and West coast styles and are two very different voices in the genre's past, present and future. So, get ready for
Public Enemy
guiding force Chuck D. and the one and only Cardozar Calvin Broadus Jr., better known to the world as
Snoop Dogg
. They're eager for your questions:
You'll be in good company as you quiz Chuck and Snoop: we've already got videos from a veritable posse of hip-hoppers and other notables who took time out to share their thoughts on how these two influenced their lives in music or politics. The
Living Legends channel
contains moving testimonials from Black Thought of the Roots, Afrika Bambaataa, Boots Riley from the Coup, as well as political activists like Fred Hampton Jr. and congresswoman Maxine Waters from L.A. There are also insider tales from David Aaron, Snoop's engineer, and Darryl Brooks, a concert promoter who booked Public Enemy on their very first tour. Take a peek:
So, at long last, it's time to
"Bring the Noise"
AND
"Drop It Like It's Hot"
– all in the same spot. Upload your question(s) for Chuck and Snoop
here
and/or share your own inspirational story about how these two (or hip-hop in general) touched your life by uploading a video response to the testimonial you like most.
Holla!
The YouTube Team
New "My Videos" & Subscription Center
Friday, July 11, 2008
Optimizations included in the
beta version
of "My Videos" are now live for all users, along with even more cool features to make managing your videos even easier.
NEW "MY VIDEOS" & SUBSCRIPTION CENTER
The YouTube video management tools have been improved! Now you can manage all of your videos (
uploads
,
favorites
,
subscriptions
, etc.) in one centralized place. It's easy to quickly add multiple videos to
playlists
,
favorites
, and
quicklists
by clicking the "add to" button. Searching across all of your videos is now possible, as is filtering them via title, time, date added, views and rating. You can also choose to view your videos in a list, grid, or condensed format (displaying up to 20 videos per page). Playlist management and sorting functions are now more streamlined, and include a collapsible menu for editing details.
Don't forget to comment here and let us know what you think of these upgrades.
The YouTube Team
You Choose '08: The Political Conventions
Friday, July 11, 2008
Ever wanted to spend a day on the U.S. presidential campaign trail? Or wondered what it would be like to attend the 2008 political conventions, the biggest bash in U.S. politics? Today, both the Democratic and Republican National Convention Committees are giving you that chance through YouTube. As Chairmans Howard Dean and Mike Duncan explain in the videos below, you can win a day on the campaign trail and a trip to the conventions by creating a video revealing which party you support in '08 and why:
Check out YouTube's
Convention Headquarters
today to submit your video, and make sure that it meets the guidelines: keep it clean, keep it under two minutes, and submit it by August 1, 2008. One week later, the YouTube community will get to vote for the winner from among five finalists in each party. You don't have to be a member of the party faithful to participate: this is about which party you're behind in '08. It's your chance to speak up and let people know where you stand on the 2008 election.
And while you're at it, check out both conventions' YouTube channels: the
RNCC
and
DNCC
have great content -- like President Reagan's
famous speech
at the 1964 Republican National Convention and Senator Barack Obama's
noteworthy address
at the 2004 Convention –- that's worth a look.
What moments will be the most memorable at this year's conventions? Submit your video today for the chance to find out in person!
Yours,
Steve G.
YouTube News & Politics
Be a Red Carpet Reporter
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
If you've always dreamed of donning designer duds and uncovering the latest celeb scoop, grab your video camera and get ready to hit the red carpet at a major awards ceremony this September.
PEOPLE.com
and
YouTube
have joined forces to launch our first-ever "Red Carpet Reporter" competition (
www.youtube.com/redcarpetreporter
). To qualify for this unique chance to mingle with Hollywood's hottest stars, submit your best two- to four-minute video using your front walk as a red carpet. Interview a friend or family member as if you were a professional reporter at a
major awards show
-- in other words, don't be afraid to to grill grandma about who she's wearing and how she prepared for her latest role.
Submit your video by midnight EST on Monday, July 21, and a team of PEOPLE.com editors and red carpet correspondents will narrow the field to 10 finalists. The top 10 will produce a second video in which the budding reporters conduct spontaneous interviews in a public space. Then it's up to
PEOPLE.com
and the
YouTube community
to select the best reporter; the winner will be unveiled on both PEOPLE.com and YouTube on August 27, 2008.
The grand prize recipient will spend a whirlwind two days in Los Angeles where he or she will receive the ultimate red carpet treatment, including hair and make-up by Revlon, a clothing allowance, VIP entry to exclusive events, and the chance to work the red carpet interviewing Hollywood celebrities. A video diary documenting the winner's day of preparing for and working the red carpet will be featured on both
YouTube
and
PEOPLE.com
.
So break out that dusty formal wear, tell grandma to do her best diva impersonation, and show us you're "red carpet ready."
And...action!
The YouTube Team
Trendspotting Tuesday: Reality Shows, Roasted
Monday, July 7, 2008
This Trendspotting Tuesday, let's put a dozen reality show parodies in a room together, sit back and watch what happens.
Unscripted television has been around since the days of
Candid Camera
and
The Gong Show.
But when we think of reality TV, many would agree that MTV's
The Real World
kicked off the genre we know and love today -- one filled with competitiveness, conflict and culture clashes. These days,
The Real World
might be mostly known for hotties, hot tubs and hookups, but comedian Kyle Cease has captured
the utterly obnoxious roommate vibe
that true reality junkies relish.
Since then, the reality world has grown to include
would-be top models
,
countless make-over shows
and
fashion runway train wrecks
. And as you'll see in this video playlist, the reality genre is ripe with cliches that make for perfect parodies. Like the peeps of
"Project Peepway"
, reality shows are something of a guilty pleasure. Sometimes we're laughing with them. But today, thanks to some YouTube comedy talent, we're laughing at them:
If you enjoyed that buffet platter of slightly-skewed reality, check out our
Trendspotting Tuesday
channel, where you can find playlists spotlighting other quirky slices of life, creativity and reality -- the real kind -- on YouTube.
Cheers,
The YouTube Team
Last Chance to Hit the "Freeway"
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Last month, singer-songwriter Aimee Mann asked to hear your versions of her song "Freeway" for the chance to perform with her on her U.S. tour later this summer. (Ten runners-up will get an autographed copy of her new CD,
@#%&*! Smilers
.)
Since then, amazing entries have come in from assorted
robots
,
aliens
, and talented Aimee fans –- some of you even hit the
highway
to record your own version of the song. Well, the deadline to enter is Monday, July 7 (aka NOW!), so get out your instrument of choice and take a crack at it. (Don't forget you can download the sheet music, lyrics and instrumental version of the song from Aimee's website
here
. ) Here's Aimee singing the official version of the song to show you just one way it could be done:
Good luck!
Michele K-Tel
YouTube Music
The YouTube Screening Room: Round 2
Friday, July 4, 2008
It's been two weeks since the launch of
The YouTube Screening Room
, and that can only mean one thing: a fresh batch of short films for your viewing pleasure.
For those of you who missed the initial announcement, The YouTube Screening Room is our new platform to help top films from around the world find the audiences they deserve. So far, hundreds of thousands of YouTubers have checked out the films, and thousands more have left comments.
We hope you'll enjoy the second round of films as much as you enjoyed the first. "The Clap," from the UK, tells the comic story of a music aficionado who finds a unique way to celebrate his favorite performer. "The Big Empty," from the US, stars Selma Blair as a young woman searching for a cure to her inner ache. "I Met the Walrus," from Canada, is the beautiful animated tale of a 14-year-old Beatle fan's real-life encounter with John Lennon. Finally, "School of Life," from the UK, follows a schoolboy as he learns life's most important lesson.
Stay tuned for our third round of films, debuting in two weeks on July 18.
Finally, for those of you interested in being featured in the YouTube Screening Room, email
ytscreeningroom@youtube.com
.
Happy viewing,
YouTube Film
The Law and Your Privacy
Friday, July 4, 2008
As you may have seen in the news, YouTube received a court order to produce viewing data from our database, including usernames and IP addresses. In order to protect our community's privacy, we strongly opposed this motion when Viacom and others filed it.
The court felt differently and ordered us to produce the data. Viacom said that they need general viewing information to determine the proportion of views on YouTube of copyright infringing content vs. non-infringing content.
Of course, we have to follow legal process. But since IP addresses and usernames aren't necessary to determine general viewing practices, our lawyers have asked their lawyers to let us remove that information before we hand over the data they're seeking. (You should know, IP addresses identify a computer, not the person using it. It's not possible to determine your identity solely based on your IP address. Rather, an IP address can reveal what geographic area you're connecting from, or which Internet service provider you're using.)
Why do we keep this information in the first place? It helps us personalize the YouTube experience, getting you closer to the videos you most want to watch. We have many features on the site that help users discover and share compelling content, and we're improving the video experience through recommendations, related videos, and personalized directories that help you find meaningful videos.
We'll continue to fight for your right to share and broadcast your work. The court did impose some encouraging limits -- they agreed with us that Viacom should not have access to private videos or our search technology. Also, the information we provide will be designated highly confidential under court order and only Viacom's outside counsel and experts will have access to it.
Legal matters aside, our focus remains on providing you with the best possible YouTube experience and we continue to be committed to protecting your privacy. Every day, millions of creative people from around the world are posting new, original content. You, our community, are creating the YouTube experience now and tomorrow.
Sincerely,
The YouTube Team
Mobile Tricks Videos: What can you do with your phone?
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Our friends over at
Google Mobile
have started a new YouTube channel called
Mobile Tricks
. They want to know what you can do with your cell phone, and start you off with a guy who's a bit obsessed with them. Look familiar? You might have seen him before in a
unitard
.
They're asking for all kinds of tricks, from the useful to the completely ridiculous, and they can be with or without Google Mobile products. To submit a video, start and end it with
these slides
, and submit it to their
channel page
. They're putting the best submissions in their
playlists
and blogging about their favorites, and we put one of our favorites on the YouTube home page over the weekend –
holotext messaging
.
For further inspiration, here's a video about how to save America with your phone (thanks to davestonedesign) and the
WillItBlend
guys doing what they do best.
Now show us what you’ve got!
The YouTube Team
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