REC Campus in landmark move sues YouTube and clandestine YouTube channel for defamation

REC Campus (Russian Education Centre), a Colombo-based leading foreign educational pathway provider in Sri Lanka, has instituted legal action in the District Court of Colombo against YouTube LLC, a California-based social media network offering a popular video sharing platform, over publication of defamatory videos, injuring the business reputation of REC Campus.  In possibly the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, REC Campus has brought the action against YouTube, alleging reckless refusals by YouTube to remove the alleged video in spite of complaints and legal notices.  The Plaintiff had also pleaded that YouTube LLC facilitated the creation of ‘channels’ on its platform with almost zero verification of authenticity and identity of persons, for commercial gain.  In this case, the Plaintiff claims that YouTube had permitted the creation of a channel called ‘Colombo Today’ with no real person and no real address. The address given in the registration of the channel has been an address in an entertainment district in London.  The Plaintiff claims that when asked to remove the video, YouTube refused the request and asked the Plaintiff to contact the uploader. However, when asked to provide the contact details and an address of the uploader, YouTube failed to comply. …
Read More