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YouTube is about to get clever with the addition of video annotations. These are a new way to add interactive elements to your videos. Add background information, create stories with multiple possible endings or link to related content. You control what they say, where they appear, when and for how long.

The possibilities are endless, and could open up a whole new set of opportunities for viral marketing. Check out the instructional video, or check out the example below:

Viacom’s legal battle with Google over YouTube’s alleged copyright infringement has developed further since my first installment. Viacom, which owns MTV and Paramount Pictures, alleged that YouTube is guilty of massive copyright infringement after finding around 160,000 unauthorised clips of its programmes on YouTube.

The latest news from the lawsuit is the ruling by a US court that Google must hand Viacom a YouTube viewing log with details of everyone who has ever watched any video on YouTube (so basically everyone on the planet..) The viewing log will contain the log-in ID of millions of users, the computer IP address (online identifier) and video clip details - and will total more than 12 terabytes of data - bad news for everyone out there who may have watched some copyrighted videos (so again, basically everyone on the planet…)

Viacom say they want the data to “compare the attractiveness of allegedly infringing video with that of non-infringing videos”. But, digital rights group the Electronic Frontier Foundation (the EFF) are arguing that the ruling is a “set-back to privacy rights” and is potentially unlawful because the log data will contain personally identifiable data. They are urging Viacom to “back off this overbroad request” want Google to take all steps necessary to challenge this order and protect the rights of its users. I can’t see it happening though, and I think there are going to be some pretty harsh words towards Viacom - and the Judge that ruled the decision.

The court have also ruled that Google must divulge the details of all videos that have been removed from YouTube for any reason.

After only one week of airtime, Heinz have pulled the plug on their latest TV advert in an apparent move to appease the sensibilities of a vocal homophobic minority. When I first watched the ad I couldn’t quite believe that people could feel so strongly about a short peck on the lips. I was truly expecting tongues and all sorts.

The ad, by London-based agency AMV BBDO (now there’s a catchy name), revolves around the central concept that Heinz Deli Mayo tastes so good “it’s as if you have your own New York deli man in your kitchen”. At the end of the ad, as the father prepares to leave the house with his sandwiches, the two men share a brief kiss.

According to the Guardian, viewers have complained that it is “offensive” and “inappropriate to see two men kissing”. What exactly is inappropriate about this, in an age where same-sex relationships are perfectly accepted and same-sex marriages legal? Other parents complained that the ads would require parents to discuss the issue of same-sex relationships with their children. I can’t see how this can possibly be justified.

As reported in the Independent, Ben Summerskill, the chief executive of the gay rights group Stonewall, has urged its supporters to stop buying Heinz products. Whether this will be carried out to the point where it actually harms Heinz remains to be seen.

I personally don’t feel as angry with Heinz as I do with the idiot viewers who took it upon themselves to complain. As someone in the office pointed out, the Heinz brand is centered around the idea of the family, and a protracted fight over this issue may go against the overall interest of the brand.

As the debate spreads across the Internet it seems that despite being withdrawn, the ad will find an audience on YouTube and other video sharing sites.

I think that Sarah Britten, a blogger from the South African newspaper The Times, sums it up well:

“Heinz showed even less spine than Thabo Mbeki on Zimbabwe.”

“Never underestimate the wilful stupidity of the viewing public”

George Carlin stamped his one way ticket today and now has a chance to explain his views on religion to the big guy up there, no doubt with a cigarette in hand and a raised voice.Known as the guy who took black humour and beat the crap out of it, then introduced it to drugs and porn, and then took it around the world for a series of unbelievably insulting stand up shows, Carlin certainly had his fans and also left a footprint on the media. The two combined on YouTube where thousands of kids were delighted to hear the dirty old man telling it like it is. Personally, I’ve always felt that he never really came into his own until the great Bill Hicks moved on, as then George became a little more edgier but still only took the audience close to the line (whereas Bill actually started most of his stuff at the line and carried on from there!) Here’s a short selection (from Mashable) of George Carlin’s best YouTube flicks. If you’re a fan, I know you’ll enjoy them; if you’re one of the uninitiated, well, better late than never.

5. Voting - why do we always feel like there’s a lack of real choice on the ballot? George explains the habits of an average voter, where politicians come from and why the country is screwed.

4. Ten Commandments You know those stupid top 10 lists, that always seem like they were inflated up to a round number (any similarity to any persons or blogs living or dead is a coincidence)? Well, it goes all the way back to Moses http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses .

3. Airline Announcements Ever wondered why all announcements on an airplane sound like they’re spoken in some weird language from a parallel universe?

2. Saving The Planet http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Planet - Saving endangered species http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_species is just one more arrogant attempt by humans to control nature. It’s what got us in trouble in the first place.

1. Religion Is Bullshit If he was wrong about this one, it might get George into a lot of trouble right about now.

RIP mate, thanks for the show.

[image credit: starpulse.com]

You may have already heard about this YouTube video as its been viewed over 2,700,000 times since it was uploaded two weeks ago. It shows an ‘unsuspecting’ girlfriend being filmed by her boyfriend’s hidden camera while she tries to keep her hula hoop up on Wii Fit. The video was posted in response to a video “Wii Fit Hula Hoop makes you look stupid”.

The video is a great response to the negative video and will probably encourage a few guys to go out and buy their girlfriends the game - and the creator, Giovanny Gutierrez (who just happens be a Director for an Advertising agency in Florida) clearly knew that when he created it.

So, is the video a response to a secret brief from Nintendo? Many people in the industry suspect that it has to be, and I have to agree with them. According to Nintendo and Gutierrez it’s ‘100% nothing to do with Nintendo” - although they wouldn’t admit it anyway would they?

And if it wasn’t a secret brief, Gutierrez must have known that his video would get his agency, Tinsley Advertising, some positive publicity.  I’m sure they’re not going to be short of a few briefs for a while.

Watch the video and see what you think…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v31qxrXsxv0

Viacom are suing YouTube’s video sharing service for its inability to keep copyrighted material off its site. They have identified 150,000 unauthorised television and movie clips on the site, including South Park, SpongeBob SquarePants and MTV Unplugged, which have been viewed tens of thousands of times.

YouTube’s owner Google says that the lawsuit threatens Internet freedom and the millions of people that legitimately exchange information over the web. They maintain that they are faithful to the requirements of the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act and they respond properly to all claims of infrigement, claiming that they go “far beyond its legal obligation in assisting content owners to protect their works”.

However, Viacom disagree and believe they do not live up to standards and have done “little or nothing” to stop infringement. They do not believe they should “tolerate any form of piracy by anyone, including YouTube…they cannot get away with stealing our products”.

The battle is set to head to court…

Ahead of the upcoming Social Media Influence conference (to be held on 4th June in London) the following YouTube Corporate Top 10 list has been compiled - comprising of videos which appear within the first 10 results in a search of the company name. Each one has been viewed over 1 million times and generated hundreds of comments.

Over 80 million YouTube videos are watched every day, making YouTube one of the most influential forms of media today. We can’t understand why some brands don’t value YouTube’s power and recognise the potential threat that it could have to their reputation - take the Disney porn for example.

Visit Social Media Influence if you want to view the videos. They suggest that while you’re watching, “ask yourself this question - do you know how your company looks on YouTube?”

Here’s their top 10 (in descending order):

iGliss has just relaunched its redesigned beta, labelled as a ‘media content management service’.

We all know that often there are just too many steps to sharing media online with friends - but iGliss provides one convenient place for you to share all your favorite items including videos, pictures and blog posts.

With iGliss, you can choose to do the traditional uploading ‘by hand’, or you can download their PC content manager, which locates your media for you and automatically uploads it - basically taking all of the human interaction out of it for you. Once your media is uploaded, other users can search the site for your content, using it’s tags and descriptions, and then share it with even more people.

As well as sharing your own content, you can share videos from YouTube and RSS feeds - basically anything that can be shared on the web can be shared here - great for people who do a lot of sharing!

I know this ad has been out for a while and I’m possibly a bit slow on the uptake with this one but I still wanted to get my tuppence worth said about this.

I am referring of course to the recent Honey Monster adverts. What the hell is that?

As most people at Neoco are aware I am a huge Mighty Boosh fan and I heard this ad (I was in the spare room at the time) and came rushing into the lounge so fast I slipped on the wooden floor, exclaiming to my amused other half, that’s a crimp if ever I heard one.

Some of you may be unaware of what crimping is but it is a style of erm well not quite sure how to describe it…… of rap and poetry, that boosh fans have come to know and love.

It is basically a rhyme of nonsensical words that ensure that you end up with a bizarre look on your face. It is actually very clever.

To give you the idea here are the lyrics from the ad

Sugar Puffs, Sugar Puffs HUP!
Honey coated puffs in a milky bath
Put ‘em in your mouth and they make you laugh
Kept in the cupboard taken out for breakfast
Spoon’s best friend and the fridge’s favourite
Huff! Puff! Huff-puff!
Huff! Puff! Huff-puff!
Wheaty chums that settle in transit
Golden pips of a sunshine princess

The Boosh started to crimp as far as I can tell in their radio show back in 2001. Each TV series has included at least two or three crimps. They are a bit of a highlight to us booshy fans or Mod wolves to those who are in the fan club (yes arguably its sad I’m a member but WHATEVER!).

I’m sure the people at Sugar puffs see this as some sort of hip, cool, down with the kids type of tribute, but that’s certainly not how they see it. They are currently in a huge legal battle over this issue, as they are saying it is a direct copy.To be fair I have to agree, that I think it is.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article934592.ece

After seeing this I sent the following links round at the office to spark some of the usual chit chat and see what they thought. There is only one other Boosh fan in the office, so it was a fair floor to see peoples take on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLXMxU-FC1E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSIQ4IJAYfk

This threw up the question of can you really copyright a style of singing? I suppose that is a fair question. The lyrics are original and it is purely the way they are being said that is the issue. Do they have grounds for suing?

I suppose that we shall see what the higher powers in court have to say and see the outcome of the legal battle is.

Apparently the ad is set to run until May, and then again from early July to mid-August. All I can say is that I for one think that in the words of Tony Harrison ‘This is an outrage’

Yesterday, we found out that Flickr now adds video! So, it’s a multimedia sharing site, that involves both photos and videos.

You’ll need to have a Pro account for video sharing, and clips up to 150MB can be uploaded. And, as with photos, there are a number of privacy settings to take advantage of, licensing, as well as tagging and geotagging capabilities.

We think that space limitations are going to be a major problem for many users, along with the alternative of free YouTube. But, given that Flickr’s brand is a sharing site for serious amateurs, perhaps YouTube won’t hinder Flickr’s entrance into the video space too much?

Webware has reported that Flickr will be scaling up uploaded content - an appealing necessity for its existing user base. With the growing interest in quality videos from an individual user standpoint, especially on the mobile front, this could be the perfect time for Flickr to finally make its move into video.