Google needs more time to respond to Viacom suit

Google has requested a 30-day extension to respond to the Viacom lawsuit against YouTube.

The letter, reported by GoogleWatch, was dated March 23 by Donald Verrilli Jr., a Viacom lawyer. In part, he wrote:

"I am writing to confirm that the parties are available to appear before the Court on Friday, July 27, 2007 at 11:30am. In addition, because the Defendants have not yet retained counsel to represent them in this matter. Plaintiffs have agreed to Defendants' request for a thirty-day extension of time -- i.e. until May 2. 2007 -- for the Defendants to answer or otherwise respond to Plaintiffs' complaint."

What's interesting about the extension is that Google--a company with an army of lawyers--hasn't responded or even retained counsel. My read: Google is hoping to settle with Viacom before things get too messy. Or perhaps Google isn't taking the lawsuit against YouTube seriously.