Summary Box: Google wins key decision in Viacom’s $1 billion copyright lawsuit against YouTube

Summary Box: Google beats Viacom in copyright case

THE RULING: U.S. District Judge Louis Stanton backs Google, saying the Internet search leader won’t have to pay the more than $1 billion in damages sought by Viacom Inc. for alleged copyright violations by YouTube. Google has owned YouTube, the Web’s top video site, since 2006.

THE REASONING: YouTube promptly removed pirated material when notified of copyright violations. Stanton concluded those actions complied with a 12-year-old law governing digital copyrights.

WHAT’S NEXT: Viacom plans to appeal, extending a legal brawl that already has lasted three years.