“Did You Just See That…?”
Since arriving we haven’t had much luck with internet access – the hotel wi-fi is costly and slow, blackouts are daily and time is at a premium in the office. Add to that my inept Mac skills and you may forgive my next blunder….
We were browsing some Youtube videos the other night when I noticed a download option on the right hand side of the screen. I blinked, rubbed my eyes and checked again – “Download this video for i-pod or PSP?” to which i immediately clicked yes and proceeded to see the video downloading to my machine. My natural instincts were to hit prnt scrn straight away but my Mac skills had not yet reached that level. Thinking I could figure it out tomorrow I halted the download and watched my video.
The next day I started to consider what I had seen – my beleifs were that Youtube had never allowed downloads so as to keep the lawyers baying at the door. That led me to wonder if Viacom’s recent victory could have prompted Google to think if we’re going to get sued anyway then why not allow downloads?
I asked a collegue at work who said he thought that Youtube had always allowed downloads – could this just be the case with Indian users??
Alas I returned home and went to the exact same video that night – no download option. Of course Marcia thinks I imagined the whole thing, but I am sure I saw it. We know Google often do similar trial with their search technology – small changes to the system that only us search geeks notice – it could be an example of this. That said, Youtube downloads would signal a massive change in what is the world’s third largest website.
Changes Afoot
Overall it feels we are definitely seeing a transitional stage of the internet; the web 2.0 explosion is passing, Google are losing lawsuits, and ISPs are getting tough with piracy – users are finally being made to realise that illegal activity on the net is not as annonymous or untouchable as previously thought.
As for youtube downloads, it seems unlikely that Google would put such blood in the water for the legal sharks of the major labels and studios. But if the floodgates have already been opened then we’ll have to wait and see.
