Google Vs Viacom

This is one story which has not been getting nearly enough publicity. Which is suprising, it seems to have been going on for a while.
Cut a long story short: Viacom tried to sue Youtube owners' Google for $1 billion due to copywrite issues.

What happens, is that on youtube, as most know, people upload videos of things they like. So that would mean South Park snippets and clips from The Hills, would be shared by kids, and Viacom would take them down. Simples you would think, right? Wrong!

Who Are They?

Viacom are a huge corporation, which owns many brands, such as Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, Spike TV, Paramount Pictures, Nikelodeon, Neopets, and many more well know brands.

Google is primarily a search engine, which is the most used search engine on the Web. Google also provides an online office suite called Google.docs, and owns, video sharing site, Youtube,

What Happened?

Well, as said above Viacom accused Youtube of knowingly uploading copywrited material, and then profiting from it. Youtube says this did not happen, as there was no way they could moniter ALLLLL the content that gets uploaded. This all happened in 2007, when Viacom said that 16, 000 videos had infringed their copywrite and were deleted. It has since been said that:

1) only 3,000 videos included copywrite infringement, as it is stated by US law

2)almost 120,000 videos were infact removed by Viacom.

Anyways in 2007 Viacom started procedures to sue Google for $1,000,000,000, because of the damage this infringement had.

And now?

There is no love lost at all between Google and Viacom. In 2008, MTV.com posted almost every music video ever made onto its site, an obvious attempt to get Googles back up. This kind of failed, as to date, Youtube is still the most popular way to watch music videos.

So other than music videos, what else is Youtube reknown for? Viral videos. You know, the videos that you revieve in emails, and are posted on every site under the sun. The one that has about 22 million views? Yep, that one. These viral videos are (as in still happening) stolen from youtube, and magically appear on Spike.com. Spike is another video sharing site, which also shows premium content such as UFC events, but this site is owned by Viacom. Well, the videos appear on Spike as being embed, which is when you can post the whole video on a site. Now, Youtube has no issue with this, in fact it promotes sharing videos in this way. The only rules are, that you cannot edit the HTML code, because the video MUST link back to Youtube (fair enough). Well when the Youtube video appears on Spike, it DOES NOT link back to youtube. These are popular actual youtube videos just embed onto Spike, and there are no link backs at all, or any credit to the original video's maker. So therefore, this breaks Youtubes T&Cs, and the original author is NEVER notified.

Note: in Spike.com T&Cs they say EVERY VIDEO is checked before it is posted.
So how can Viacom cry about Copywrite, when they dismiss others' rights so willingly?

And, this does go into somewhat murkier waters. There is proof from various Youtube users, saying that there are fake Youtube channels set up, where they post things such as South Park clips. They then block their own clips. Why? To show that Youtube is allowing copywrited material onto their site. It is a very mean trick. And basically attempting to use dirty tricks, to sink Youtube and Google.

But that's not all, now other 'powers-that-be' from the internet, have sided with Google in this battle. Yep, usually they may not be best of friends, but Facebook, Yahoo, ebay and IAC (InterActiveCorp) have all sided with Google. Basically saying that if Viacom are successful in sueing Google, it will effect the freedom of the internet. This has to be a good side, as I do believe that this will hopefully stop this war.

Ok seriously?????

Cheers weather.

You seem to know I haven't got a weekend right now, so you have decided to make it the hottest day of the year.

Grrrrr.

I have been doing my Riot Graphics logo all day, well for a couple of hours. I like it :)





I can see the 'R' being quite brandable, and I like that. I am getting my designs together for shirts as well, so they should be posted up here within the next few days before I send them off.  I have decided I want a few shirts with just my new logo on them, just to so that I can wear them.
Hence the reason, if you know me, this is posted everywhere.

So that I can see what people think. *sigh*

So if you view this blog AT ALL, or see the logo anywhere else, please tell me what you think about it.  I need to gage opinion before i get business cards and stuff printed out. Right, off to try and cool down for a bit, seeing as it is so so uncomfortably hot.

Ciao

A Cliff To Climb

I am still making steady progress on the mountain of work I need to have done within the next week. Today I completed 3 pages for Shaun's website. AND I finally managed to get a contact form sorted out, with the help of Paul.

So I have a bio page, which is just going to be writing, so I am planning that tonight at work, and will type it up when I get home. Then I have the portfolio, which will be done using 'lightbox', a javascript item, which gives your site a pop-out gallery thing. I have done Lightbox before, so I'm not really that worried, I will just fill it in with different colours untill Shaun gives me any images he wants to be in it.

So, that is a major unit, pretty much done. This one is important, because I know I have to design my own site, and get it online over the summer. So its good to know, I have only really come across one bump. And that was getting the contact form to display on the desired page. But that was more me, putting the wrong size for the container box (25555 px wide, when the site is 1028 px, d'oh). So yeah, me and Dreamweaver are good pals right now.

Going to be busy this weekend, need to try and get my t-shirt designs sorted and sent to the print shop, for pickup next  Saturday.  So yeah, get one thing done, but its not even a dent on what I still have to do. :S

I'm in overload

Sooo...progress from both sides today.

Got some more of Shaun's website designed, and its looking a wee bit better. It has a welcome banner and everything. So kinda happy that is getting somewhere. But nothing else is. :/

It's like I have so much to do, I don't know where to start. Most of it has to be in on Monday, and to be honest, that is kind of an unreachable target. *sigh*

But, I spoke to Caron, my tutor, today, and she showed me a bit about where the exhibition will be, and it looks a good space. And she said that I could put a few of my t-shirt designs up. So I need to have them ready to be picked up for next weekend, so they can be put in the exhibition come Monday/Tuesday. So I need to get the designs ready to be sent in by next Wednesday, so I can pick them up on Saturday. And at the moment they are still being finalised.

Graeme, web design tutor, told me about a company called Be Your Own Boss, where they partner with Scottish Enterprise, and they help people get their business off the ground. So I sent them an email, in hope that they will be able to help me.  I hope.

Way too much stuff going on right now. My brain is about 3 different places at once. :S

Stressfully Numb

Still stressed, and still not much further ahead. *sigh*

But I magically found time to do this :-



Isn't it brilliant how I always find time to blog. *rolls eyes* To be honest it does relax me, and helps me get out all my agro out. So I am half way through 'The History of New Media' which is good.
But because of my laptop's tendancy  to overheat itself, I ended up going on to Play.com and looking ath Laptop coolers. Saying that, it will make things a lot better, as my laptop will be able to site on my knee or my bed, and work without getting too hot.

So yeah.

Over Stressed

Today started off well. I went into college and did work on my Graded Unit. Was actually quite chuffed, cause I did a lot. Actually did about 12 pages of developement work. Which made me rather happy, and totally motivated about the project. So was happy, and for a change felt I had spent time in college well.

That was untill I went to Web Design, and completely wanted to cry. The class was so noisy, and something as simple as adding a contact form onto a website, did not work. *sigh* So I ended up in a two hour class, and the only outcome was that I wanted to kill myself :/

So I finished this afternoon, totally dejected and just wanted to go home.  Then, to top off my feeling of uselessness, I lost my bus pass. As in, I had it this morning, and now its gone. Where the issue is, that I have no money, and can't afford to go to either college or work. *sigh*

So I have such a headache cause of all this, and I just want to cry, everytime someone asks how I am doing.

Riot Graphics' Progress

After months of being static in where I want to go, with my work. I am now offically starting Riot Graphics as a business. 

I know what you're thinking, 'so what have you been doing this past year'. Well, to be honest, I have been trying the name out, and seeing what people think of it. And it has seen some good feedback and interest. Also, I have been at college *cough*. Seriously, I have. :P

What has started this, is that the clothing store I was in contact with, has contacted me saying that whilst they like my designs, they are not going to be able to print out the designs themselves. So, this means that I would have to pay for printing and send some prototypes, so that they can see what they look like.

To get these prototypes, I am going to have to order them from an online source. Which involves me sending them the designs, and them printing them for me. Ideally, I would love to screenprint them, but that is not going to be workable, given the amount of time that I have. Which is not very much, at all.

So, I am starting work on my business plan, and am going to start pricing up different resources which I will need. A business plan, shows what your company is, and where you expect it to be within the next year. You need to estimate turnover, and sort out taxes. It seems very complicated, and after reading over things, it seems like it is complicated. But you know what, the prospect of people paying for my work, is my motivation for this. I am so ready for this, can't bare college for another year.

Booyah Son!

Too much Red Bull [x]

Not enough sleep [x]

No college work done [x]

Wishing was out at pub [x]

That's all I need to say about my Friday, to be honest. I went to college, just to go to the pub. And then I had to come to work, when all I wanted to do was to get a pack of beer, and go home. :(

And then, I remember I am booked in for overtime tomorrow, when I could do with lying in. *sigh* The things we do for money. I supposed it is only four hours, and it IS time and a half. So it ends up at about £12 an hour. Which is good.

I mean, at least I get the chance to do overtime. A lot of people can't work, never mind work extra. So I guess, I should stop moaning, and just get on with it.

Ha. Me stop moaning, I can be a commedian. lol

No Happy

If you know me, then you are likely to know that I have been having issues, with a lot of my internet accounts being hacked. *sigh*

It all started with the college, and the fact that the majority of their PCs have been getting viruses, which are 'infostealers'. For the uniniciated, infostealers, steal info, like passwords, sites you visit, etc. Well, these viruses seem to be on the network, so every PC seems effected.

Well at the start of the week, I access my facebook, youtube and hotmail account, and my details were sent somewhere. Facebook  went on shut down, after someone tried to access my account from North America, when I am in Scotland.

If that was not enough, some dodgy emails were sent from my hotmail, my youtube videos were deleted and twitter password changed.

So last night, I went and changed all my details, and thought all would be ok. Well, today I recieved a call from Ticketmaster, saying they attempted to take a £400 bill out of my bank. I was raging. Then facebook locked me out AGAIN, then I went to YouTube, and all these animal sex videos were uploaded on my account. WTF!!!!!

To be honest, its making me very reluctant to using the college PCs for anything. But I know I need to. *AAAAARRRRGGGHHHH*

Brighter note, I passed a unit on digital imaging or something. Which is good. Also passed an animation test today. So progress is finally happening, well, progress of sorts

Muse-day

Another day gone, and another day closer to the unreachable deadline.

I went to college today, and got really, really frustrated with the fact that I couldn't get anything done. So everythings due in, and I have done nothing. *bangs head off wall*

My graded unit book does look pretty awesome, but its the general layout and not the volume of work which gives that appearance. Which is sad. I do love it though. Its like a wee child, so I want it to do well. (How sad do I sound?)

I'm gonna try and get some more drawings done tonight, for it, so that I can at least appear that I have done some developement. The horrible thing is that my other project is nowhere near this one. *sigh*

Talk about fail :(

Big wheels keep on rollin'...

Aye, so there's been no updates, due to crap internet, and crap me, being too busy to :P

Its approaching 1am and I am doing college work. Shocked? So am I.

But seriously, I am seriously close to just bombing this course because I haven't been bothered by anything the last few weeks. Which has just lead to me being a very stressed out Sue. *sigh* I do this every year. :( I wish I had more brainpower sometimes. It would be handy, for when I decide to go and watch videos rather than do college work. *She says as she blogs away*

I am an obsessive person, so things such as vlogging and blogging got in the way of me doing actual work. *sigh* But, again, I can't blame anyone but myself. I either work slowly, or I stress myself out to the point, I just stare at the PC, completely devoid of emotion. :( It's no good, like.

Anywho gonna put on SLC Punk, and do work when that is on. I have stuff to print out, and scanning to do. And stress lines to deepen across my forehead.  Wish me luck.

Today is Notsome

I am stressing. Again!

I have stuff due in for Gillian, from the first semester, where I went all stupid, and didn't hand things in :/

I also have to hand my Graded unit in for marking next week. The developement is where most of the score comes from, and do you want to know how much I have done? Absolutely sweet FA. :(

It's all my fault, I have been total uninspired over the last few days. Also next Thursday, I need my first animation finished, and all the paper work done, like my storyboards handed in, again, this is not done either.

So stressing out about that, and I come into work, to be told that my manager will listen to a few of my calls. :( I hate that, it makes me feel like everything I am doing will be scrutinised.

I suppose that needs to be done.

Hopefully I don't fuck it up too much. ButI know me, and I probably will make a complete disaster out of it.

I wish I was at home.

Rome wasn't built in a day...

Good news, everybody.

I have made progress in three of my college projects, Graded Unit, Art & Design Project and Web Design.

I know this doesn't seem like very much at all, but I was working in college from 9am, seeing as I had no classes, it seemed like a good idea. Well, despite the fact that the college was so noisy, I still managed to get some work done. I am so happy,  because usually, the slightest noise is enough to throw me off, and my concentration levels plummet. 

I always seem to get motivated late, like way after I should. If I had worked like this throughout the year, then I would have been ok, and not late with anything. But, alas, I'm just not that perfect, so hence me rushing about like an idiot, last moment.  *rolls eyes*

But at least, it's a start

Monday Monday

Hello. Another weekend has passed, and I haven't progressed any further in anything.

I did a lot of thinking, and came up with the idea of starting a music blog, as if I don't have enough to do. Its going to be filled with music news and recommendations.  I love music, so I thought that this would be the ideal way to spread some love. So done both the recommendation and News posts for today.
Check it out: http://musicholdall.blogspot.com

Also I have an article I am supposed to be sending into my works internal magazine. Its to try  and help raise the moral of people in the call centres. I think its is a fantastic idea, and am looking forward to seeing what I come up with. I think it is going to be written in a similar way as this. 

So I am going to vanish and get the 500 word thing typed up now, seeing as I have 40 minutes before I start my shift. And that will be one thing I can tick off my list as being 'done'.

Weekend Thinking

Ok, I thought that someone, somewhere decided that weekends were supposed to be relaxing. Well, NEWS FLASH, it's not.

I seem to be doing this thing right now, where I just stress myself out over nothing. Which is so unlike me *rolls eyes* So I have been stressing out, on how my internet seems to be falling in and out of connection, like nothing on earth. Which I can normally live with. But when I am trying to upload a video to youtube, especially when there are issues with the uploader. So yeah,been going kinda shouty at the computer for that.

Aside from that, I have been updating things. Also been shouting at Tumblr, as it has decided that it doesn't want to do things my way, and just balls up everything I do. In retrospect, it may be me who is malfunctioning and not the site, but I like being able to blame something else. Makes me feel better about my failure.

Good news, a talk to my mum today, kinda helped me decided that I may start freelancing alongside my pay-job. Because I am getting interest in relation to my work. Basically, how it is right now, is that I am doing a lot of work for myself and I am really enjoying it. I have been told reccently, that I have a good writing style, though I do blabber on a bit. But writing was something which came into my head when I was at school. But at the time I wanted to be a Veterinary Nurse or an Artist. And here I am, aged 26 looking to start of a business as a graphic designer.

But due to the popularity in online blogs and journalism, I could see that in my future? I don't know. The one thing is, the comments about my writing has got me really considering things like that. But, I know that through the last year or so, since I really got back into blogging, I know that my grammar has approved 100%. And I have also picked up touch-typing, which was one thing I couldn't do at school. I have no idea where I picked it up. To be honest, I think its because, right now, I seem to spend half my life in front of a computer, be it at work, college or at home.

I guess I just have a LOT of thinking to do. I mean, do I get myself working 9-5 trying to kick-start Riot Graphics? It seems like a good root, as I have a lot of pathways I could go down. Fingers crossed. The thing is, I don't know how I will act being self-employed. I really don't know if I have the discipline to do that without having it planned out for me.