Viacom, YouTube to air dirty laundry with unsealing of court documents in lengthy legal battle

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Viacom-YouTube secrets to be exposed in lawsuit

NEW YORK — Viacom and YouTube likely will be forced to expose business secrets and other previously confidential information Thursday when reams of court documents are expected to be unsealed.

The sensitive material is coming out in Viacom’s lawsuit against YouTube. A judge is releasing the documents to show why Viacom and YouTube each believe he should rule in its favor.

Viacom’s lawsuit alleges that YouTube became the leading video site by rampantly infringing on copyrights. The New York federal case began in 2007, shortly after Google bought YouTube for $1.76 billion.

Viacom, owner of Paramount Pictures and Comedy Central, argues YouTube showed copyright-protected clips without permission. YouTube maintains it followed copyright laws governing the Internet.