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Sony Buys Grouper, Gets Soft-Core Porn
With News Corp.'s purchase of MySpace, Viacom's acquisition of Atom Films, and the big news yesterday that Sony Pictures Entertainment had bought Grouper (not a sea bass, but a YouTube-a-like video site), it’s only a matter of time before mega-site YouTube gets snatched up.
Sony Buys Grouper, Gets Soft-Core Porn
However, one aspect that distinguishes Grouper from YouTube, according to statements made by its owners, is that the content available does not violate copyright laws – a sticky area for any international conglomerate. You won't see, for instance, pirated episodes of "The Nanny."
However, you will spot plenty of soft-corn porn; the top
three "most viewed videos" on Grouper yesterday were new music videos
from Shakira, Paris Hilton, and something called "sexy girls
kissing," which if I'm not mistaken is a clip -- surely pirated -- of pornstar Jenna
Jameson in hot lesbian action. Whoops. A memo to Sony CEO Howard Stringer,
consider yourself warned.
PaidContent.org has a good rundown of the issues for all
parties involved.