Microsoft puts brakes on Soapbox video sharing

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Soapbox, which was opened up to a public beta last month as Microsoft's answer to Google's YouTube, is getting technology from Audible Magic that will filter uploaded videos and block those with content under copyright. The company is also creating software for copyright holders that will help more easily identify if their material is online and streamline the notification process. The tool could take the form of a password-protected portal, but the system remains under development. Adam Sohn, a director in Microsoft's online services group, noted that the Viacom's $1 billion March 13 lawsuit against Google "certainly helped" Microsoft's decision to constrict Soapbox's growth while it gains control over its 45,000-strong video-clip library in a sensitive legal environment. Microsoft plans to reopen Soapbox to all users within 30 to 60 days. The ability to upload videos is only available to registered users, and the site is not accepting new registrations, said Sohn.

News source: InfoWorld

(2 replies) #1 Lare2 on 24 Mar 2007 - 06:58

Quote -

is getting technology from Audible Magic that will filter uploaded videos and block those with content under copyright. The company is also creating software for copyright holders that will help more easily identify if their material is online and streamline the notification process.

There goes the reason why this will never win over youtube.

#1.1 +Smigit on 24 Mar 2007 - 07:20

youtubes also working on some form of protection to ensure copyrighted material isnt used.

#1.2 Xavien on 24 Mar 2007 - 15:40

Google will never complete that protection until they know they are gonna lose in court.

Google knows that Youtube is popular because of copyrighted content; and i don't think they are gonna make Youtube flop so easily.

#2 azz0r_wugg on 24 Mar 2007 - 09:34

Good stuff, better to protect themselves.

(3 replies) #3 toadeater on 24 Mar 2007 - 18:38

Another chintsy Microsoft knockoff fails miserably. Will they ever learn?

#3.1 tomaras on 25 Mar 2007 - 07:44

If Microsoft had purchased You Tube you would have accused them of being unable to come up with something on their own. If they try to compete with Google, who apparently couldn't come up with an original video sharing site and instead purchased You Tube, you call them a knock off. Basically anything that Microsoft does is a failure in your mind.

#3.2 chris4 on 26 Mar 2007 - 22:36

Quote - (tomaras said @ #3.1)

Very well said tomaras.

#3.3 +Smigit on 27 Mar 2007 - 15:09

Well google had (/has?) Google Videos as well which I thought they made but maybe not. But it didnt have the market penetration that you tube had so they went ahead and bought them out.

#4 neufuse on 24 Mar 2007 - 20:10

The funny thing is the "soapbox" tech is what NBC and News Corp are going to be using in their new shareing site..

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