Telecinco takes on YouTube

Spanish free-to-air broadcaster Telecinco has filed a suit against YouTube, alleging that the video sharing site has infringed its intellectual property rights.

Telecinco is unhappy that its content is available on the Google-owned YouTube site and alleges it has not taken measures to ensure this is not the case. It is also unhappy that video of international series that it has acquired is appearing on YouTube before it has had a chance to air them.

Telecinco boss Paolo Vasile told local press that the broadcaster had tried and failed to reach an agreement with YouTube. Company general secretary Mario Rodriguez told a Spanish press conference that the broadcaster has the right to demand compensation.

Spain’s established free-to-air broadcasters are suffering with new terrestrial channels and a rapidly growing digital terrestrial TV service providing fierce competition. Analysts have issued gloomy predictions for Telecinco’s advertising revenues this year.

Telecinco is owned by Mediaset, the Italian media group that is controlled by the family trust of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.