IP Democracy: Google Cozies Up to Hollywood..Again

In this excellent TV Week piece, Daisy Whitney describes Google’s effort to cozy up to Hollywood in a second attempt to revive its video gateway plans. The detente follows a falling out between Hollywood and Google early this year when Google launched its video search beta test, prompting some program rights holders to demand that Google move their wares out of the search engine’s reach.

Google has ambitious plans despite its claims of simply serving as a “hosting” company.

For now, Google streams content but possible future models could include subscription, pay-per-view and ad support, which Google could easily leverage, given its advertising clout, said Peter Chane, senior product manager for Google Video. “You could imagine a scenario where you get access to content on Google Video, view it online, download, view it when you are offline, view it on a portable video device, your television,” Mr. Chane said. Google will work to develop software to make that process secure for content owners, he said.

Google needs Hollywood’s goodwill to navigate the obstacle course of rights clearances involved with any TV program or movie.

“We are actively working with rights holders to make sure they are comfortable bringing their content online, and we want to make sure we give them the set of features they are looking for so they bring their content online,” Mr. Chane said. That includes work to develop monetization and secure distribution for online content.

Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on October 11, 2005 12:12 PM to IP Democracy