YouTube LLC YT violates own terms; closes accounts without warning or explanation; communication impossible; consider class action San Bruno California
I had a YouTube account for several years which I used only to watch videos and make comments. I NEVER uploaded a video, yet one day when I went to log on, my account had been suspended.
I had received no explanation nor warning. I thought it was some kind of mistake or review, and that the suspension would be temporary, but a couple of days later the message was, "Your account has been permanently disabled."
I tried emailing them, faxing, and calling them. I never got any response except once when a receptionist answered the telephone but she could only refer me back to the website and Community Help Forums which is made up only of users, no one from YouTube.
Terms of Service provide for suspension of accounts for multiple infringements of copyright. Since I had never uploaded any video, this could not have been the reason. My comments were not hateful nor obscene. I am a professional and my comments were mostly quoting scientific and news articles. I did what I did as an educational service to the public. Not only was my account closed, but ALL my comments, a few years worth, were deleted.
In the Forums, I saw an extraordinary amount of people whose accounts had been closed. Perhaps some were for cause, but others claimed for no reason (although most had uploaded videos).
While your average website may be able to deny service on a whim, YouTube is now so large and ubiquitous that it is essentially a public utility, i.e. they must observe certain criteria and respect the common weal.
I would like others with similar experiences to contact me, especially a lawyer who might be willing to initiate a class action.
Anthony
Albany, California
U.S.A.
12 Updates & Rebuttals
Edgeman
Chico,California,
U.S.A.
Fair Use...
#13Consumer Comment
Tue, August 04, 2009
There are limitations to Fair Use, it's not a free-for-all. If the OP was pasting a little too much text out of an article, then he could very well have exceeded a reasonable amount of material that otherwise could have fallen under "Fair Use". It's YouTube's call if they want to risk any potential consequences.
ReactorCore
Victoria,British Columbia,
Canada
YouTube: Privately Owned
#13Consumer Comment
Mon, August 03, 2009
Just because YOU think YouTube *seems* like a publicly owned commodity, doesn't mean it is.
Because of this, you can simply consider yourself a GUEST at their service, and like any host at a privately owned facility or household, they can tell you to get the hell out whenever they choose, and for ANY reason... They could even claim that you're too ugly to rub elbows with the (alleged) "beautiful people" there.
They owe you NOTHING.
As for the people whining and moaning about copyright as a "rebuttal", look into something called "fair use", which is allowable if the author is using text, images or video clips or excerpts in order to prove a point or for editorial/commentary purposes.
The person quoting the text would have to lift a LARGE percentage of the text wholesale in order for your pissing and moaning about "copyright" to hold water.
Ashley
Springfield,Missouri,
U.S.A.
Opinion
#13Consumer Comment
Mon, August 03, 2009
"" While your average website may be able to deny service on a whim, YouTube is now so large and ubiquitous that it is essentially a public utility, i.e. they must observe certain criteria and respect the common weal. ""
This is YOUR opinion, unfortunately the law does not recognize them as a "public utility"
They are a private company, and like any other private company they can bar whomever they want from their service. They do not provide any sort of essential service to even be remotely called a utility.
Hugh Jass
Franklin,New Hampshire,
U.S.A.
Ummmm,
#13Consumer Comment
Mon, August 03, 2009
that's COPYRIGHT. Don't insult others when you can't spell 6th grade words properly.
Hugh Jass
Franklin,New Hampshire,
U.S.A.
Ummmm,
#13Consumer Comment
Mon, August 03, 2009
that's COPYRIGHT. Don't insult others when you can't spell 6th grade words properly.
Hugh Jass
Franklin,New Hampshire,
U.S.A.
Ummmm,
#13Consumer Comment
Mon, August 03, 2009
that's COPYRIGHT. Don't insult others when you can't spell 6th grade words properly.
Nancy
Steilacoom,Washington,
U.S.A.
Copywrite
#13Consumer Suggestion
Sat, August 01, 2009
Those articles that you cut and pasted, did you get PERMISSION from the magazine or author to do that? If not, then that is copywrite infringement. If you are soo d**n smart, you should know that. UTube is NOT publiclly owned. They can bar anyone at any time for anything.
Edgeman
Chico,California,
U.S.A.
Uhhh...
#13Consumer Comment
Sat, August 01, 2009
YouTube is not a public utility or even close to it. It is a privately owned website and they do not owe you a membership. What are you going to sue them for?
Out of curiosity, did you paste copyrighted text into your comments?
Sylver8248
Murfreesboro,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
I don't really understand...
#13Consumer Suggestion
Sat, August 01, 2009
What will be the basis of this lawsuit you intend to file?
Sylver8248
Murfreesboro,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
I don't really understand...
#13Consumer Suggestion
Sat, August 01, 2009
What will be the basis of this lawsuit you intend to file?
Sylver8248
Murfreesboro,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
I don't really understand...
#13Consumer Suggestion
Sat, August 01, 2009
What will be the basis of this lawsuit you intend to file?
Sylver8248
Murfreesboro,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
I don't really understand...
#13Consumer Suggestion
Sat, August 01, 2009
What will be the basis of this lawsuit you intend to file?