Veoh to File Chapter 7; Copyright Battles Took Toll

LOS ANGELES — A sour economy and civil litigation — including one suit filed by Titan Media Group’s parent company — have prompted video website Veoh.com to file for bankruptcy.

Veoh co-founder Dmitry Shapiro wrote in a blog post that despite “great vision, a passionate team, tens of millions of users, millions in revenues and victory in court were not enough."

"The distraction of the legal battles and the challenges of the broader macro-economic climate have led to our Chapter 7 bankruptcy," he said.

Veoh spent untold millions representing itself against Titan parent IO Group and Universal Music Group over copyright infringement, which it won in both cases at federal court.

Veoh, like YouTube, have followed a practice set out in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which says that sites can wait to take down unauthorized content after receiving formal notification from the copyright holder.

Veoh had banked on a reputation for displaying sexual content that Google and Yahoo have refused to allow on their sites. However, one day prior to Titan filing suit, Veoh removed its adult category.

Titan at the time alleged that Veoh is responsible for infringing on copyrights held by the gay adult content company because users of the service had illegally downloaded content owned and produced by the gay content house. The alleged copyright infringements were more than 40,000 in all.

Gill Sperlein, Titan Media’s general counsel, told XBIZ on Friday that although the company feels vindicated with the company filing Chapter 7, “we don't really want to gloat.”

Sperlein further said that user-generated content sites can legally exist, but only if they’re run in a responsible manner.

“There are currently several different very robust systems for fingerprinting and identifying content, including Vobile and others,” he said. “These technologies reduce the risk that content will be distributed on these sites without the permission of the copyright holders."

(The Vobile software package, which was brought to adult biz’s forefront by the Free Speech Coalition at XBIZ LA, offers producers the ability to track infringing sites and determine what content they’ve pirated and other important data in order to issue take-down notices and for possible litigation.)

Titan Media’s vice president, Keith Webb, echoed Sperlein and told XBIZ that websites that choose not to adopt filtering and not to work with content producers are doomed to failure.

“The legal battles are simply too big to fight and will kill you in the end. In order to survive, both user-generated sites and content producer have to work together," he said.

“When we are on opposite sides of the fence we both lose, when we are on the same side of the fence we both win. One hand feeds the other.”

Veoh debuted in 2005 "with a bold goal: To make it possible for anyone with a video camera and a computer to broadcast video to the world," Shapiro wrote. The company later raised more than $70 million in capital from Intel, Time Warner and Goldman Sachs.

But the company announced in April that it would fire 25 workers and refocus on its video compass browser plugin.

"We grew our passionate audience base to over 28 million users per month, built a business with a run rate of $12 million, and helped educate many blue chip advertisers about the bright future that online video holds for them," Shapiro said.

Veoh.com currently is still live, but the company hasn’t hinted when it may go dark or where all the existing content will go.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

European Commission to Assess Pornhub, XVideos, XNXX Compliance With Digital Services Act

The European Commission plans to conduct a study to determine how well adult sites Pornhub, XVideos and XNXX are addressing illegal content and other potential harms under the EU’s Digital Services Act.

German Higher Court Upholds Ban on PornHub, YouPorn

The Higher Administrative Court of Rhineland-Palatinate on Thursday upheld a “network ban” on Aylo-owned adult sites Pornhub and YouPorn for failing to comply with German age verification regulations.

Alabama Notifying Adult Sites of New Tax Set to Take Effect Sept. 1

The Alabama Department of Revenue has begun sending notices to adult site operators about a new 10% tax on their revenues, set to be enforced starting Sept. 1.

Ondato, CCBill Announce Strategic Partnership for Global High-Risk Market

Age and identity verification firm Ondato and payment processor CCBill have formed a strategic partnership to serve the global high-risk market.

Ofcom Investigates 4 More Adult Companies for OSA Compliance

U.K. media regulator Ofcom has launched investigations into whether four companies operating adult websites have implemented requisite age assurance measures under the Online Safety Act, the agency announced Thursday.

Taylor Nicole Launches New Site Through YourPaysitePartner

Creator Taylor Nicole has launched her new official website through YourPaysitePartner (YPP).

Adult Networking Platform SpicyGigs.com Launches

SpicyGigs, a new adult industry networking platform, has officially launched.

Pineapple Support to Host 'Cream Pie Challenge' Fundraiser

Pineapple Support is hosting its Cream Pie Challenge through August to raise funds for mental health services for industry performers.

Kyrgyzstan President Signs Measure Outlawing Internet Porn

President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday signed into law legislation outlawing online adult content in the country.

NC Legislature Overrides Veto of Extreme Anti-Adult Industry Bill

The North Carolina state legislature on Tuesday voted to override Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of a bill imposing regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most creators and content.

Show More