Why is Viacom so strict about copyrights?

Answer 1

Most all corporations are strict about copyright, not just Viacom.

When you use something that is copyrighted by someone else for yourself you are essentially committing a theft against the copyright owner. It is absolutely no different to walking into a shop, then shoving items under your jacket and walking out without paying.

The content creator relies on the revenue generated from the content to make a living. By stealing the content you are taking away the individual's right and means to feed their family.

Viacom is strict about copyright for these reasons. They have to protect their clients so those clients will continue to use their services. If you take something that Viacom produced then expect to receive a cease and desist warning. And then being hauled into court if you ignore that warning.

Quite simply, if you commit theft, either by physically stealing the items or digitally stealing, then you must also expect to face the consequences for the theft.

Viacom is simply protecting their clients and their assets, which is what they, and any other company, should do.

Create your own content and don't steal everyone else's. If you can't create your own content then you're in the wrong field of employment or taking the wrong hobby.

Answer 2

Let us put it this way.
If you spend 6 months of your life producing something, costing you about £3,000 to £500,000 (depending on what you're producing), taking away from you time that could be spent with your family, would you be happy to have someone stealing your work?
The answer is, no, you wouldn't be.

Every media company has a legal obligation to protect their works and their clients. When media items such as music, film, books and so on are stolen (hence had their copyright infringed), it is an act of theft because you are stealing revenue from the people who deserve it (revenue they need to feed their families with). And theft is illegal. And you can be charged and imprisoned for copyright infringement. Companies can also legally send a bill of owed payments to the copyright infringer for every time their material was illegally viewed or downloaded to make up for lost revenue.

Don't steal things that are not yours, respect the rightful owners of materials, and then you wouldn't have any copyright issues with Viacom.