Online video news sharing site Redlasso said today that it is suspending blogger access to its video search and clipping service while it fights a copyright infringement lawsuit filed this week by NBC and Fox News Channel.
The company said it will continue to provide services to its business and radio clients.
The suspended site offered bloggers online broadcast content tools that allowed them to comment on news stories by searching blogger TV and radio segments and creating limited duration clips for use in blog posts.
The site will still allow businesses to track and clip content for internal use. It will also still allow its radio station clients to search, clip, and upload content to its own Web site to share online.
“We are very disappointed in the actions of select networks,” said Ken Hayward, CEO of Redlasso. “We believe we have always acted within the law and have been respectful of the networks’ rights. Unfortunately, they have forced our hand and are denying the blogging community access to the Redlasso platform that beneficially tracks the usage of newsworthy clips across the Web.”
Hayward said the company will continue conversations with content providers during the suspension and the goal is to form formal partnerships.
Broadcast networks have complained that the company violated copyright laws by running unauthorized clips and full-length programs of “The Tonight Show” and “The Fox Report with Shepard Smith.”
“Clip usage by bloggers is an exercise of first amendment rights to provide social commentary on newsworthy events,” said Hayward.
