ICC tells YouTube to remove World Cup videos

The International Cricket Council has ordered online video-sharing group 'YouTube' to remove "hundreds" of World Cup clips, claiming copyright infringement.

ICC Development, the body's commercial arm, and commercial rights holder Global Cricket Corporation, have gone after YouTube to protect the rights of broadcast and sponsorship partners.

"We are here to protect the commercial broadcast rights for the ICC and GCC and there is an issue here," Christopher Stokes, the chief executive of online rights protection agency NetResult, which represents the ICC, was quoted as saying by 'The Guardian'.

"In general there is a dilemma for rights holders in that they want people to enjoy the event but also have stringent contracts with TV broadcasters and with mobile rights holders.

"In today's world, broadcasters buy highlights as well as live coverage and mobile rights means clips. There is an obligation to protect them."