Viacom sues YouTube for $1B

Tired of seeing the programs of its various networks available for free on YouTube, Viacom said today that it has sued the video-sharing giant for massive intentional copyright infringement, seeking more than $1 billion in damages. Viacom claims that the more than 160,000 unauthorized video clips from its cable networks, which also include MTV, Comedy Central, VH1, and Nickelodeon, have been available on YouTube. The parties had been engaged in ongoing talks over the prevalence of Viacom content on YouTube, with the site promising to police its networks and remove any copyright-infringing content. Last month, Viacom demanded that YouTube remove more than 100,000 unauthorized clips after several months of talks between the companies broke down.

In a statement, Viacom lashed out at YouTube's business practices, saying it has "built a lucrative business out of exploiting the devotion of fans to others' creative works in order to enrich itself and its corporate parent Google." Neither Google nor YouTube has yet responded to the filing publicly.

EMI denies Beatles digital deal

UK label giant EMI said today that a British download site had jumped the gun in declaring that the Beatles' catalog had finally made its way online. UK download site Wippit said this week that the Fab Four's catalog would be available on its site this week, but in a statement, EMI denied the claim. EMI, the Beatles' management company Apple Corps, and Apple's iTunes have long been involved in negotiations to bring the catalog online. The Fab Four are the last major pop act to withhold their catalog of songs from digital stores like iTunes and Napster.

McCartney leaves Capitol for Starbucks

Speaking of the Beatles, Paul McCartney has reportedly ended his 40-year relationship with Capitol Records in favor of the just-launched Hear Music label from Starbucks. The coffee giant unveiled its new label this week, saying it will develop records for sale both in its coffee shops and through traditional music retailers. The chain has parlayed sales of compilation CDs into a business that has included deals with musicians such as Alanis Morissette and Bob Dylan for exclusive content. Hear Music will be based in Los Angeles, and Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment, will serve as chief manager, Starbucks said.

Except for a brief break in the early 1980s when he skipped to Columbia Records and then back, McCartney has been with Capitol since the Beatles' first album in 1964. "They knew it was coming," a source told Fox News. "[Capitol] did nothing for [McCartney's 2006] album, and they were reminded that McCartney's entire contract was ending. Look, they did nothing for the Beatles' Love album this winter. It just sold on its own. Everything they do is outdated."

Pink, Trekstor unveil MP3 player

iPod Mini owners have long been able to say they have a pink MP3 player, but now music fans can say they own the Pink MP3 player. The singer said this week that she has teamed up with German manufacturer TrekStor GmbH to produce her own MP3 player, dubbed the i.Beat p!nk. The device will offer a custom-engraved signature and preloaded images, as well as audio, video, and image playback. The player comes with a storage capacity of either 1GB or 2GB, and it also sports a built-in FM tuner. Prices were not yet announced. The player will hit stores in April. "The p!nk is truly one of the most unique video capable MP3 players on the market today," TrekStor GmbH's Hana Arad said in a statement. "With its eye catching color, cool aluminum back plate, and distinctive engraved signature, TrekStor once again stands out from the crowd, by offering a state-of-the-art, exceptionally engineered portable player."

DMGI inks Andrew Dice Clay deal

Digital Music Group, a Sacramento-based firm that acquires the rights to audio and video content and licenses that content for sale on digital-download services like iTunes, has inked a deal with one-time superstar comedian Andrew Dice Clay. The deal gives DMGI long-term distribution rights to Dice Clay's material. Dice Clay is hoping to revive his career by starring in a new VH1 reality show, Dice Undisputed. DMGI said its current comedy catalog includes material from the likes of Sam Kinison, Cheech Marin, Sinbad, Steve Harvey, and Norm Crosby. "I'm thrilled that DMGI is my new digital distribution partner," Dice Clay said in a statement. "They have the expertise that will allow me to share my body of work with my loyal fans."