For those of us interested in fair use of copyrighted materials, YouTube provides a very interesting test case. Hundreds of copyrighted songs and videos (TV programs, excerpts from movies, etc.) are hosted there; it's hugely popular; and, to date, no one has successfully sued YouTube over copyright violations.

Fred von Lohmann, of HollywoodReporterEsq.com, discusses how YouTube has made use of the DMCA's "safe harbor" provisions in his article, "YouTube's Balancing Act: Making Money, Not Enemies." It's a fascinating read:

http://snipurl.com/vs6l