Youtube acquires rights management firm Rightsflow

ONLINE VIDEO BROADCASTER Youtube has bought Rightsflow, a copyright management firm.

Rightsflow lets creators license their media content and monetise it. It covers licences for digital music, vinyl and CD and might have an impact on what music gets posted online and who gets the credit for it.

"We're pleased to now be taking a momentous step with the team at YouTube, that shares in our vision of solving the really challenging problem of copyright management," said Rightsflow CEO Patrick Sullivan.

"Combined with the worldwide platform and reach of YouTube, we'll now be able to drive awareness, adoption, and licensing success to a much larger audience - ultimately benefiting users, artists, labels, songwriters, publishers, and the entire global music ecosystem."

Youtube said that Rightsflow would help it deal with the "complex issues of licensing and royalty payment management".

"By combining Rightsflow's expertise and technology with YouTube's platform, we hope to more rapidly and efficiently license music on YouTube, meaning more music for you all to enjoy, and more money for the talented people producing the music. From music videos to live-streamed concerts," said David King, product manager at Youtube.

"We have and will continue to invest in tools that make it easier for copyright owners to manage their content online." µ