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You just can’t make this stuff up.

While the installation of closed-circuit security cameras in Chinese cities has helped reduce crime, the incident raises privacy issues. Nevermind democracy.

While we, in the US, bask in the glory of all things online video (Ok, some, most, are not that glorious), Time Magazine’s website (and possibly the print edition, but thats so arcane) takes a look at how China is handling the growth of online video, and their version of YouTube - Tudou.com.

With an audience estimated at 78 million people, online video is big business in China: Western venture capitalists have poured $120 million into the industry since 2004, according to CCID Consulting, a leading Chinese IT firm. Tudou.com, China’s largest…

China’s State Administration of Radio Film and Television and Ministry of Information Industry recently announced new regulations on digital media that will go into effect at the end of January.

The regulations cover professionally produced content distributed online but there is speculation the state will begin to more tightly regulate content on international sites and Chinese video sharing sites.

The internet poses a serious threat for governments like China in which the state controls the flow of information. China has been more aggressive than most at blocking sites it deems a threat to…

According to an article in today’s Times Union, two former top execs of Wurld Media have been indicted on a number of charges ranging from misdemeanor failure to pay benefits to felony grand larceny and money laundering.

Gregory Kerber, former Chief Executive and Richard Saxton, former financial officer were each arraigned on nine charges.

Assets of Wurld Media, an online music and video file-sharing company, were sold to ROO Media for $4.3 million in in July, however most of the alleged charges took place before that deal was signed.

According to Mediapost, Roo…

The Writers Guild of America today has 17th most viewed YouTube channel.

In the past two days the Guild has posted ten videos, the fan favorite the clip (above) of the cast and writers of The Office discussing why they’re on strike: “You’re watching this on the internet a thing that pays us zero dollars”

UPDATE: A federal mediator will reportedly intervene in a last chance meeting Sunday morning.

The Writers Guild has authorized a strike and unless they and the AMPTP can find a middle ground between the doubling of residual revenue distributed to writers from VHS and DVD sales under the last contract and the 2.5% of distributor’s gross for re-use writers want for non-traditional media, it will be lights out for talk shows Monday and for scripted TV several months later.

Above: Jon Stewart lets viewers know why he may not be on come Monday

This is potentially…

The cooperation between the major networks (and Veoh and Dailymotion) to create principles for finding and removing copyright infringing content on UGC services is a first for networks previously unable to come together in their digital media strategies. These guidelines are a long time coming.

But getting all networks together to agree on principles for user-generated content and video sharing has resulted in some vague principles and an alliance that leaves room for anticompetitive cooperation down the line.

At a minimum these guidelines will raise the barrier to entry for startups looking to…

Finally. At last. Phew. About F*&ing Time.

YouTube announced yesterday that they have begun testing an anti-piracy video batching database to protect themselves from copyright infringement lawsuits. The original announcement of the YouTube Video Identification system was back in June.

According to the Official Google Blog, the Video Identification system goes above and beyond the company’s legal responsibilities, but I’m not entirely sure thats the right message for them to be putting out. “We do what we can,” isn’t the warm, fuzzy sentiment that will prevent future lawsuits.

It remains to be seen…