Comedy Central Icons Subpoenaed in YouTube Suit

NEW YORK, August 15: Google-owned YouTube has requested the
testimony of Comedy Central stars Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert as part of
its defense against the $1-billion law suit brought against the video-sharing
site by the cable channel’s parent company, Viacom.

According to published reports, 32 people have been called
to give evidence, including Viacom’s executive chairman, Sumner Redstone.

Colbert and Stewart are reportedly being called to testify
because of their past support of YouTube.

In March, Viacom filed a $1-billion suit against YouTube
alleging “massive intentional copyright infringement of Viacom's entertainment
properties.” Viacom maintained that at the time there were more than 160,000 clips
on the site featuring unauthorized content from the company, much of which came
from Comedy Central. The case is not likely to go to trial until the end of
next year.