YouTube Sues Gan Jing World, Accusing Video Site of ‘Stealing’ Content to ‘Create a Clone of YouTube’

variety.com:

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor YouTube filed a lawsuit against Ganjingworld, which operates the Gan Jing World video-sharing site, alleging that it has been “automatically vacuuming up YouTube user channels and associated content from YouTube.” Ganjingworld’s service “clones most of YouTube’s functionalities and its overall appearance,” YouTube says in the suit, filed Wednesday in California state court. “But GJW’s imitation is anything but flattering.

The striking similarities in GJW’s service are not the product of fair competition. Rather, GJW and those acting in concert with it have engaged in systematic and wide-ranging automated appropriation of content from the YouTube service.” According to the lawsuit, Ganjingworld violated YouTube’s terms of service through the alleged massive copying of content and by selling advertising alongside it.

YouTube also accuses GJW of violating California’s Unfair Competition Law. Variety has reached out to Ganjingworld for comment.

In a statement, Lance Kavanaugh, VP of legal at YouTube, said, “Ganjingworld takes advantage of YouTube creators by stealing their content to create a clone of YouTube — depriving creators of the protections and controls they expect, and the ability to make money from their work.