YouTube vs Viacom row takes a new turn as YouTube hits out with accusation

In the latest in a long-running dispute between the two companies, YouTube has this week accused Viacom of using phony email addresses to upload videos to its site, after 'roughing them up' to make them look like illegally obtained material.

The fight, which has been going on since before Google bought YouTube in 2006, revolves around Viacom's claim that YouTube continually allows users to upload and view television and movie content which is protected under copyright. Citing examples such as MTV Unplugged and South Park, in 2007 Viacom launched a £497m copyright infringement lawsuit against YouTube, claiming that it had identified around 160,000 TV clips which were being shown without its consent.

The row intensified in 2008, when Viacom demanded that Google release YouTube user data to support its lawsuit - a demand which caused public concern on grounds of privacy issues. YouTube meanwhile continued to defend itself based on laws which state that publishers cannot be held responsible for material which is posted by users.

Now in this latest round of retaliation YouTube appears to want to strike back, with Zahavah Levine, YouTube's chief counsel writing in a blog post: "For years, Viacom continuously and secretly uploaded its content to YouTube, even while publicly complaining about its presence there. It hired no fewer than 18 different marketing agencies to upload its content to the site. It deliberately 'roughed up' the videos to make them look stolen or leaked."

Meanwhile observers continue to follow the row with interest, and the case is expected to be resolved one way or the other by the end of this year.